West African gold producer Robex Resources Inc. has announced a significant operational milestone, successfully pouring the first gold from its Kiniéro Gold Project in Guinea. The achievement was completed both on schedule and within the initial budget, marking a major step for the company.
A Major Milestone Delivered Safely
The first gold bar, weighing 2.64 kilograms (approximately 85 ounces), was produced during the initial smelt at the Kiniéro site. Robex's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Wilcox, highlighted that the project's construction was finished in 17 months, a feat accomplished with an outstanding safety record of nearly 5 million work hours without a single Lost Time Injury (LTI).
Wilcox credited the dedicated team, noting this project represents the construction group's sixth successful build within the past 15 years, with every one delivered on time and on budget. This track record, he stated, provides strong confidence for future developments in the region.
Operational Ramp-Up Progressing Smoothly
Commissioning activities at the Kiniéro processing plant are advancing as expected. The company reports that mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems are all performing to their design specifications.
Ore delivery to the mill began earlier in December, and the plant is already achieving metallurgical recoveries that align with the projections from the project's feasibility study. Open-pit mining operations are ramping up from the South Sabali starter pit, with drilling and blasting activities underway. Ore stockpiles continue to grow on the run-of-mine (ROM) pad, supporting the pathway to commercial production.
The company is targeting the plant to reach its nameplate capacity early in the first quarter of 2026.
Strategic Implications and Future Growth
The successful delivery of the Kiniéro project transforms it into Robex's second producing asset, complementing its Nampala operation in Mali, which has an annual production guidance of 46,000 to 48,000 ounces.
Robex leadership emphasized that this achievement underscores the compelling strategic rationale for its proposed merger with Predictive Discovery Ltd. Predictive's flagship Bankan Gold Project is located within 25 kilometres of Kiniéro in Guinea. The combined entity aims to create a new tier-1 gold mining hub in West Africa, with the potential for combined production exceeding 400,000 ounces of gold annually by 2029 from combined resources of roughly 9.5 million ounces.
In a related financial development, Robex has also secured an exclusive option to buy back and fully extinguish the royalties on the Mansounia property, providing further financial flexibility.
The company, publicly traded on the ASX and TSX Venture Exchange under symbols RXR and RBX, is now focused on the smooth transition of the Kiniéro project into steady commercial production while advancing its strategic combination plans.
