PRECIOUS METALS

Marginally lower gold expected this year by growth miner West African

Production from Burkina Faso moving towards doubling by mid-decade

This article is 3 years old. Images might not display.

WAF indicated the production forecast was function of modelling maintaining a conservative underground mining grade for the year ahead, while  the AISC per ounce is forecast to be marginally higher than 2022 mainly due to the financial assumption that elevated fuel and explosive prices encountered in the second half of 2022 will persist.

Production from WAF's Sanbrado operation is unhedged.

WAF has begun a major growth phase with the development of a second mine in Burkina Faso called Kiaka set to make the company at plus-400,000oz per annum producer by 2025.

Kiaka, a large open cut development with pre-production capex estimated at $430 million, is at the financing stage.

The Richard Hyde-led WAF ended 2022 with A$173 million cash and no senior debt.

Shares in WAF were trading early this week at $1.11, capitalising the company at $1.14 billion.

Expert-led Insights reports and Analytics tools built on robust data, rigorous analysis and expert commentary covering mining Risk, Projects, ESG, Leadership, and Investor Sentiment.

Expert-led Insights reports and Analytics tools built on robust data, rigorous analysis and expert commentary covering mining Risk, Projects, ESG, Leadership, and Investor Sentiment.

editions

Investor Sentiment Insights 2026

Discover what investors have planned for mining in 2026 in our industry-leading survey

editions

World Risk Insights 2025 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 120 jurisdictions globally, assessed across six risk categories and an industrywide survey.

editions

ESG Index 2025: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Index provides an in-depth evaluation of the ESG performance of 60+ of the world’s largest mining companies. It assesses companies across 10 weighted indicators within 6 essential ESG pillars.

editions

Leadership Insights 2025

Leadership Insights reveals key trends in priority mining issues through interviews with 15+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.