Lycopodium Minerals Africa said the US$48 million EPM contract for Newmont Ghana Gold's Ahafo North Project spans a strike length of approximately 14 kilometres.

The development will include a series of open pits with a 3.4 Mtpa process plant (3.7 Mtpa on softer oxide ores) using conventional carbon-in-leach technology.

Lycopodium will undertake the detailed engineering design and procurement services for the design of the process plant and infrastructure, while the project continues with final permitting approvals.

"Our support of Newmont in the development of its Ahafo operations in Ghana spans many years, commencing with the Ahafo South Project, and our initial scope completed on the Ahafo North Project places us in good stead to continue to support Newmont in the successful expansion of its operations at Ahafo," said Lycopodium Limited's managing director, Peter De Leo.

Ahafo North Project is located 50 km north of the existing Ahafo gold operations. Estimates of a potential yearly production are 250,000 oz with a mine life of 13 years.