You have just delivered the commissioning of the new Séguéla mine in Côte d’Ivoire. How have the last months unfolded for Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (Fortuna)? 

We are coming to the end of a capital-intensive phase and have put a lot of effort into bringing the Séguéla mine into production. This is the first mine that the new Fortuna post-Roxgold acquisition delivers in West Africa, and this speaks to the successful integration of both companies. We delivered on time and on budget, through a challenging construction environment with inflationary pressures and strain on the supply chain. We poured the first gold in May 2023, and the mill has met and exceeded design capacity. 

What are Séguéla’s advantages in terms of production figures and exploration potential? 

We have already provided consolidated guidance to the market regarding our 2023 gold production of 282,000 to 320,000 oz, in which Séguéla will contribute 60,000 to 75,000 oz/y at an all-in sustaining cost in the range of US$880 to US$1,080/oz during the second half of 2023. What drove our initial interest in Séguéla was the impressive exploration potential in this belt where we hold a commanding land position. There is significant potential for growth, which has been highlighted by the Sunbird discovery. We are about to turn that into reserves through infill drilling and will convert that into the mine plan. We also have a robust pipeline of new prospects. 

Can you expand on Fortuna’s approach to sustainability in the area? 

We are 10 hours away from Abidjan, this is a relatively remote location, and there are education, health and infrastructure gaps here. First, we understood what community priorities were, and trained people to integrate them successfully in work positions. Our workforce is 40% local, coming from our near neighbors. Training is fundamental for Fortuna. Take large truck operators for example – we brought simulators, and the local workforce is operating the fleet right now. In the short term, we want to increase the share of women in our workforce to 17%. We are also supporting education programs. 

How does Côte d’Ivoire fare as a mining jurisdiction? 

Mining is strategic for the government of Côte d’Ivoire. When we speak with authorities across the public sector, their support is consistent. We have a good basis for comparison as we operate in six countries, and Côte d’Ivoire is amongst the most welcoming for sustainable and responsible mining. In terms of predictability for investment and government support, I would rank it highly. 

With the recent acquisition of Chesser in Senegal, what is your growth strategy in West Africa? 

We will remain active looking for growth opportunities in West Africa, as we do in Latin America. In West Africa, our areas of focus are the gold-producing regions of Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, and few other places in the world exhibit the rich mineral endowment and production growth as West Africa does.

What are the key priorities for Fortuna as we enter 2024? 

We are coming out of a capital-intensive phase, and now, it is about harvesting the portfolio. Concerning capital allocation, our priorities are strengthening the balance sheet and the continued advancement of our high-value exploration opportunities in the portfolio, and we will continue to evaluate other initiatives to enhance shareholder value.