The West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) share price is in focus today after the gold miner achieved its 2025 production guidance, producing a record 300,383 ounces of gold across its Sanbrado and Kiaka operations.
What did West African Resources report?
- Q4 gold production: 112,019 ounces
- Q4 gold sales: 105,995 ounces at an average realised price of US$4,058 per ounce
- Full year 2025 gold production: 300,383 ounces (within guidance of 290,000–360,000 ounces)
- Full year gold sales: 280,065 ounces at an average price of US$3,525 per ounce
- Sanbrado 2025 gold production: 205,228 ounces
- Kiaka 2025 gold production: 95,155 ounces
What else do investors need to know?
The Sanbrado underground mine experienced a 16% decrease in ounces mined during Q4 compared to Q3, due to a 14% lower underground grade. This, combined with a planned mill shutdown, resulted in a 17% quarter-on-quarter fall in Sanbrado's gold production.
Kiaka's open pit mine ramped up strongly, with a 76% jump in mined ounces for the quarter. The new processing plant also made solid gains, driving a 208% increase in gold production from the previous quarter as plant throughput and ore grades improved.
There was a difference between ounces produced and sold, attributed to a build-up of gold in circuit at Kiaka and timing of shipments.
What did West African Resources management say?
Executive Chairman and CEO Richard Hyde said:
I would like to commend both our Sanbrado and Kiaka operational teams for achieving WAF's gold production guidance for a fifth consecutive year. Combined group gold production of 300,383 ounces from our Sanbrado and Kiaka gold mining centres for the full year 2025 was well within WAF's annual guidance of 290,000 to 360,000 ounces, and was a record year of production for WAF. We look forward to providing our full quarterly activities report in the coming weeks.
What's next for West African Resources?
West African Resources is set to release a full quarterly activities report soon, which will provide further details on operational performance and project progress. Investors will also be watching for further ramp-up progress at Kiaka and any updates on future production targets.
The company's strategy of unhedged gold production gives it full exposure to any moves in the gold price, which may influence future revenues and shareholder returns.
West African Resources share price snapshot
Over the past 12 months, West African Resources shares have risen 115%, significantly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.
