Claims that we’re only treating stockpiles are false; we’re mining actively – Damang Gold Mine Manager

Damang Gold Mine Ltd’s Manager of Mining, Frank Dankyi Agyei, has dismissed claims that the mine is relying solely on existing stockpiles for its operations, insisting that active mining is ongoing at multiple pits.

Speaking to Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen host, Philip Osei Bonsu, Mr Agyei said the company had deployed heavy-duty mining equipment to the Amoanda and Juno pits, with plans to extend operations to the Rex pits.

“We are actively mining here, as you can see. Claims that we are only treating existing stockpiles are absolutely false,” he said.

He explained that the Amoanda Pit was undergoing a major cutback to consolidate several previously separate mining areas into one larger pit.

The project incorporates the former Tometo East Pit, Amoanda Pit 4 and Amoanda pits 2 and 3, which he said had previously operated as smaller, isolated pits. The expanded Amoanda Pit is expected to have a strike length of approximately 1.8 kilometres.

Mr Agyei said two Liebherr 9400 excavators were being used for active mining at Amoanda, alongside a Hitachi EX2000 excavator and a Kattega excavator.

He added that at least four excavators were operating at the pit, while five had been deployed to support active mining at the Juno pits.

The equipment at Juno includes 9350 excavators numbered 88 and 89, excavator 99, a Hitachi EX870 excavator numbered 105, excavator 114 and a Pulse excavator numbered 83.

According to him, the deployment of the equipment demonstrates that the mine is continuing to extract ore rather than depending exclusively on material mined previously.

He also disclosed the scale of investment in the mine’s machinery, saying a Liebherr 9400 excavator could cost about €9 million on the market.

Mr Agyei further said the mine had approximately 50 haul trucks, each costing around €4.5 million, highlighting the substantial financial commitment involved in sustaining its operations.

He said the company was working to revitalise the project and had plans to expand active mining to the Rex pits.