Metso to supply a crushing and grinding package for B2Gold’s Otjikoto Gold Project in Namibia

Gold production targeted at 4,385 kg annually during initial five years of operation

Metso is supplying a primary crusher and grinding equipment to B2Gold Namibia for its Greenfield Otjikoto gold mine project in Namibia. After completing by the end of 2014, the new mine will produce 4,385 kg (141,000 oz.) gold annually in the first 5 years of full operation. The complete value of the order exceeds EUR 8 million.

Metso’s delivery consists of a primary gyratory crusher for processing of run-of-mine gold ore, and a semi-autogenous grinding mill and a ball mill for secondary grinding. The crusher will be delivered in January 2014 and the grinding mills during April 2014. The order is included in Metso Mining and Construction’s first quarter 2013 orders received.

"Besides providing a competitive bid, Metso has an excellent reputation for supplying robust crushing and grinding equipment," comments John Rajala, Manager of Metallurgy of B2Gold Corporation about the decision making process for the Namibian gold project.

The new, Otjikoto gold project is located 300 km north of Namibia’s capital city of Windhoek. Based on the exploration, the open pit mine contains minerals reserves of 29.4 million tons with an average gold grade of 1.42 grams per ton. The corresponding, estimated gold reserves are over 41.7 tons (1.34 million oz.).

The mine will use leaching and carbon in pulp as its process system to extract the gold.

Primary gyratory can crush gold ore rock over one meter in size

The Metso SUPERIOR® 42-65 MK-II primary gyratory crusher to be delivered can process gold ore rocks over one meter in size. The nominal capacity of the crusher is 2010-2780 tons per hour, depending on the setting used. The operational weight of the crusher is over 119 tons.

The primary grinding circuit will use a 24’ x 15.75’ sized SAG mill, followed by a 16.5’ x 28.5’ secondary ball mill. Both mills will have a 4 MW (5,365 HP) drive motor, and feature Eaton air clutches, a shared inching drive and a trunnion supported design.

B2Gold Namibia (Pty) Ltd is a fully owned subsidiary B2Gold Corp., a Vancouver based gold producer with two mines in Nicaragua, one mine in the Philippines and a strong portfolio of development and exploration assets in Nicaragua, Colombia and Uruguay.