LEB resumes bauxite mine production

The Ivory Coast's sole bauxite mine has resumed production after being suspended for months amid civil unrest.

The mine was forced to suspend production in August as violence ramped up in anticipation of a presidential election at the end of October.

"Work has resumed, the expatriates have returned," said Moumouni Bictogo, chief executive officer of Lagune Exploitation Bongouanou (LEB), which operates the mine.

Due to the delays, the mine's projected peak production has been put off to early next year. The mine, which was opened last year, was initially scheduled to achieve peak production before year's end.Asian Metal Copyright The mine was forced to suspend production in August as violence ramped up in anticipation of a presidential election at the end of October.Asian Metal Copyright "We are counting on reaching our cruising speed not before the first quarter of 2021 and produce more than two million tonnes of bauxite ore in the next two years," said Bictogo.

The mine's peak output is expected to reach 100 thousand metric tons of bauxite per year. It sits atop a cache of around 245 million metric tons, employing 200 individuals on its 32,000-acre plot.

.Asian Metal Copyright The mine, which was opened last year, was initially scheduled to achieve peak production before year's endAsian Metal Copyright