Toubani Resources Limited has announced the appointment of Ausenco as the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor for the development of its flagship Kobada gold project in southern Mali, West Africa.
This appointment marks a key milestone following the recently announced funding package as Toubani advances Kobada toward development, positioning the company to transition from feasibility and planning into execution, it says.
Kobada has been designed as a low-cost, long-life oxide gold operation able to process some 6 Mt/y of oxide material and produce 162,000 oz/y of gold over a 9.2-year period (according to the 2024 definitive feasibility study).
Under the EPCM engagement, Ausenco will lead all aspects of engineering, procurement and construction management for the processing plant at Kobada. The initial phase of work will focus on detailed engineering design, procurement planning, and the development of a robust project execution strategy aligned with Toubani’s capital and schedule objectives.
The EPCM scope encompasses:
- Detailed engineering for the processing plant, required infrastructure and support facilities;
- Procurement and expediting of long-lead equipment and vendor packages;
- Construction management and supervision of site works and contractor interfaces;
- Operational readiness support; and
- Complete commissioning to first gold.
Toubani Resources Managing Director, Phil Russo, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ausenco as our EPCM partner for the Kobada gold project. Ausenco’s reputation for delivering successful, cost-efficient gold projects globally – including in Africa – makes them an ideal partner for Toubani as we advance Kobada toward development and first gold. Their engineering depth, project delivery experience and practical approach to execution will be invaluable as we progress through detailed design, procurement and into construction.”
Ausenco President APAC/Africa, Minerals & Metals, Reuben Joseph, said: “We’re excited to have been selected by Toubani Resources as their EPCM partner for the Kobada Gold Project, which is well positioned to become West Africa’s next producing gold mine. Our team is looking forward to working closely with Toubani to safely deliver an industry-leading, optimised, reliable and efficient processing plant that supports the project’s long-term performance and operational targets. Ausenco has extensive experience and a proven track record executing gold projects in Africa and around the world, and we’re proud to bring that knowledge and expertise to Kobada.”
