B2Gold Corp (TSE: BTO) (NYSE: BTG) (FRA: 5BG) finished setting up its large-scale solar plant at Mali’s Fekola Mine in December and now has it fully operational.
The international gold producer announced its completion on Mar 18. It is one of the largest solar installations in the continent.
B2Gold is now capable of supplying an additional 22 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity to the project for a total of 52 MW. Additionally, it has enabled the mining company to reduce its heavy fuel oil (HFO) consumption by 20 million litres per annum. It will save B2Gold alot of money in the long run.
This petroleum product is a major pollutant and such an immense reduction is a significant environmental sustainability accomplishment. It emits substantial quantities of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and greenhouse gases when it is burned.
“The expanded facility will allow the Fekola site team to turn off the HFO plant for a portion of the day during times of sufficient solar radiation,” sustainability director, Ken Jones, said, “a tremendous achievement.”
B2Gold’s Fekola operation produced over 392,000 gold ounces last year. About 30 per cent of this major African mine’s energy is now provided by solar power.
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B2Gold expects significant production boost this year
The gold producer pulled a total of 804,778 ounces from its three open pit projects in Africa and the Philippines last year.
In 2025, B2Gold is expecting to increase that number to somewhere between 970,000 and 1.075 million. The primary reason for this is the anticipated production boost from the Fekola complex, which is scheduled to start churning out gold from additional deposits shortly once permits have been obtained.
It will generate around 200,000 more ounces this year than 2024, B2Gold says.
Gold production from the Goose Mine in Nunavut, set to commence by the end of Q2, will be another significant factor contributing to this rise.
Calibre Mining Corp (TSE: CXB) (OTCMKTS: CXBMF) contributed 19,644 ounces to B2Gold’s total last year. B2Gold currently holds a 4 per cent stake in this international mining company. This gold quantity is set to increase as production commences at Calibre’s Valentine operation later this year.
Calibre Mining is a sponsor of Mugglehead news coverage
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