B2GOLD Namibia has appointed Mark Dawe as managing director. This follows the promotion of Bill Lytle, to the position of vice president for Africa.
B2Gold’s Otjikoto Mine, which celebrated its first gold pour on 11 December last year is the second gold mine commissioned in Namibia after Navachab near Karibib.
Dawe was previously employed as managing director at Okorusu Fluorspar Mine.
He has worked in Namibia for more than 26 years and has extensive experience working with the government both as a managing director and as former president of the Chamber of Mines.
The Otjikoto mine is located approximately 300 kilometres north of Windhoek between Otjiwarongo and Otavi and is owned 90% by B2Gold and 10% by EVI Mining a local empowerment group.
For 2015, the Otjikoto Mine is expected to produce between 140 000 to 150 000 ounces of gold at a cash operating cost in the US$500 to US$525 per ounce range. Once the planned mill expansion is completed in the third quarter of 2015, the company expects that annual gold production from the main Otjikoto pit will increase significantly to approximately 200 000 ounces in 2016 and 170 000 ounces in 2017.
