The Segilola gold mine in Nigeria will make the transition from diesel fuel to natural gas in the June quarter, operators Thor Explorations said.

Thor plans to begin commissioning natural gas generators at the end of the March quarter. Its processing plant will be running on compressed natural gas generation starting next quarter, the Vancouver-based company said.

The Nigerian mine posted a 95.1% recovery rate for gold in March, with a 94.1% average recovery rate for the quarter. Segilola produced 7,220 ounces of gold in March, and 21,343 ounces of gold in the March quarter.

Thor Explorations anticipates further recovery improvements next quarter, chief executive Segun Lawson said.

The mine is expected to produce between 22,000 to 24,000 ounces of gold in the June quarter. Full-year production is anticipated to be between 80,000 and 100,000 gold ounces.

Thor Explorations is monitoring supply chain challenges, and is putting together a plan to increase its inventory of raw material and spares.

Segilola, Nigeria's first commercial gold mine, poured first gold in July 2021, and entered into commercial production in October 2021.

Segilola's processing plant has a design throughput capacity of 715,000 tonnes per annum. Thor Explorations identified several faults in the ramp-up, including a faulty heat exchanger at the mill and a faulty valve which limited the performance of the gravity circuit.

All the plant's problems were rectified by the EPC contractor, and the plant is now running smoothly.

Thor Explorations wholly owns the Segilola gold project, and owns 70% of the Douta gold project in Senegal.