Orezone Gold Corporation and West African Resources announced that the two companies intend to enter into a memorandum of understanding (?MOU?) to investigate synergies on their respective three mining projects that could unlock significant value for all stakeholders. Orezone?s Bomboré and WAF?s Sanbrado operating centers are located within 14km of each other, and host a M&I Mineral Resource of 5.1Moz and 3.0Moz, respectively. WAF is also constructing the 5.9Moz M&I and 1.8Moz Inferred Kiaka project located 45km south of Sanbrado with gold production planned to commence in 2025.

The two operating mines, development projects, and exploration tenure cover a contiguous area over 1,800km2 and 100 strike km of highly prospective greenstone belts and structures. The MOU between the two gold mining companies, which operate independently in Burkina Faso, is expected to deliver significant savings over the life of mine to their respective operations with specific emphasis in the following areas: Grid Power: Orezone is in the final stages of connecting the Bomboré mine to the national power grid and the Kiaka process plant will also source its power from the grid. Both companies have agreed to investigate the opportunity to extend the Bomboré grid power spur line to Sanbrado which would materially reduce the processing costs at Sanbrado.

Thermal Back-up Power: Connecting both mines would allow Bomboré to access Sanbrado?s 24MW HFO and LFO power plant for back-up power when required to maintain operations. Renewable Energy: Both companies will investigate the potential to install a centralized solar power plant to further reduce power costs at their operations and capture the economies of scale of a larger jointly funded project. Procurement and Supply Chain: The companies will look to use their combined purchasing power to reduce consumable, storage, and transport costs.

Common Spares: Both companies will review which critical spares can be jointly shared between the operations to optimize inventory levels. Community and CSR: The companies will liaise in the areas of CSR, training, employment and Livelihood Restoration Programs to ensure maximum benefits to local communities. Youth employment programs and training centres will be established, and skills training will be emphasised together with health care, agriculture management and restoration of the local environment.

Security: Both companies will look at opportunities to cooperate and optimize security costs.