Desert Gold Provides Barani Mine Construction Update
Delivery of the Barani plant and generator advances Desert Gold toward targeted initial gold recovery in late 2026, albeit with elevated project risk.
Rhea-AI Summary
Desert Gold Ventures (DAUGF) reports that a 200‑tonne‑per‑day gravity processing plant and 650 kVA generator have been delivered to the Barani site at its SMSZ Project in Mali, with site access upgrades completed.
Civil construction, plant erection, and mechanical and electrical installation are advancing, with commissioning planned through late October 2026, ramp‑up and initial processing in November 2026, and initial gold recovery targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to successful construction, commissioning and ramp‑up. Borehole drilling has confirmed water on site, though the final hydrogeological report is pending. No project‑specific security, safety or community incidents have been reported in 2026. The company notes that Barani has no established Mineral Reserves and the plant has not been supported by a feasibility study, increasing economic and technical risk.
Positive
- 200 tpd gravity plant and 650 kVA generator delivered to Barani, enabling on-site construction, installation and commissioning.
- Commissioning and ramp-up schedule set for October–November 2026 with targeted initial gold recovery in Q4 2026, subject to successful execution.
- Water supply indicators from three boreholes show positive flow rates of 24, 9 and 8 m³/hour, with final report pending.
- No project-specific security, safety or community incidents reported during the 2026 reporting periods to date.
Negative
- Original construction schedule delayed by ocean-freight issues, fuel constraints, material shortages and seasonal weather, pushing work into the wet season.
- No Mineral Reserves or feasibility study established for Barani, increasing uncertainty and risk of economic or technical failure.
- Larger 1,200 tpd development scenario from the 2025 PEA is not part of the current program and would require additional technical work, approvals and financing.
- Multiple material risks disclosed, including construction and commissioning performance, equipment and metallurgical performance, cost levels, supply conditions, security and seasonal weather.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Highlights
- Gravity plant and 650kVA generator have been delivered to the Barani Site
- Site preparation and civil construction activities are advancing with equipment, construction materials and supporting resources being mobilized to the active work areas
- Plant erection and commissioning activities are planned through October, followed by ramp-up and initial processing during November 2026
- Water on site confirmed by borehole drilling with final hydrogeological report pending
- Initial gold recovery is targeted for fourth quarter of 2026, subject to successful completion of construction, commissioning and ramp-up
- No Project-specific security, safety or community incidents have been reported during the Company's 2026 reporting periods to date.
Delta, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 16, 2026) - Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DAU) (FSE: QXR2) (OTCQB: DAUGF) (the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on construction of a gravity processing plant with a stated design capacity of 200 tonnes per day at its
The processing plant and generator are now at the Barani site. Barani site access improvements have been completed, and key construction materials and supporting resources have been mobilized and delivered to site. The remaining work is focused on completing civil construction, plant erection, completing mechanical and electrical installation, commissioning the facility and progressing through initial ramp-up.
Project execution during 2026 was affected by significant ocean-freight delays, regional fuel-supply constraints, limited availability of key construction materials and contractor availability. These factors delayed the original schedule and construction sequence pushing many key activities into the rainy season which further affected site activities but did not prevent the project from continuing to advance.
Desert Gold's President and CEO Jared Scharf commented, "The delivery of the processing plant and generator to Barani represents a crucial project milestone. We have worked through shipping delays, regional fuel-supply constraints, material shortages and seasonal weather conditions. Nevertheless, our team continues to materially advance the Barani project under extremely difficult working conditions, and I commend them for their efforts and dedication to this project. Our immediate focus is completing the remaining civil works, erecting and commissioning the plant, and progressing through the initial ramp-up period. With the end of the West Mali rainy season in sight, we expect a significant increase in productivity at site. We continue to advance all activities responsibly and in accordance with applicable safety, environmental, community and regulatory requirements."
Plant and Equipment Delivery
Under the plant-supply agreement, Benhope Services SARL is responsible for the supply and delivery of the gravity processing plant, associated spare parts, transportation to site, installation, commissioning and training of Desert Gold personnel.
The plant and generator underwent factory acceptance procedures before being released for delivery, as described in the Company's May 5, 2026 news release. The 650 kVA generator arrived at the Port of Dakar in July 2026, followed by the processing plant in mid-August 2026. Both shipments were subsequently cleared and transported to the Barani site.
The extended delivery period affected the original construction sequence and shifted certain activities into the seasonal wet period. With the major equipment now at Barani, the Company is focused on completing the remaining civil interfaces and advancing plant erection and commissioning.
The principal access route from Bourdala village to the Barani mine site has been rehabilitated and is now suitable for the transportation of plant equipment. Connections between Berola Camp, Barani Camp and the mine site are being maintained to support continued access during periods of heavy rainfall. Upgrades to Barani Camp are also being prioritized to shorten the supply route and improve logistical efficiency throughout the wet season (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Improved access routes from Bourdala to the Barani Mine Site
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/314518_7c6a5966b4fe6a57_001full.jpg
Figure 2. Ongoing Construction Activities at the Barani Site
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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/314518_7c6a5966b4fe6a57_002full.jpg
Operating Environment
Site preparation and civil construction continue to advance, with equipment, construction materials and supporting resources being mobilized as work areas become available (Figure 2). The Company has also completed improvements to site access and adjusted the construction sequence to reflect equipment availability, regional supply conditions and seasonal weather.
Hydrogeological/ geophysical siting campaign has been completed with 15 survey lines and 688 stations. This was followed by four boreholes, of which three maintained a positive rate of 24, 9, and 8 cubic meters/hour. While positive news, the Company is awaiting the final report before finalizing its water-supply planning.
No project-specific security incident has been reported at Barani, and no safety or community incident has been reported during 2026 to date. The Company continues to advance site activities in accordance with applicable safety, environmental, community and regulatory requirements.
Figure 3. Conceptual 3D layout of the Barani 200tpd gravity plant designed by Benhope Services SARL
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/314518_desertgold.jpg
Near-Term Execution Plan
With the processing plant and generator now at the Barani site, near-term activities are focused on completing the remaining civil works, advancing mechanical and electrical installation, and progressing through commissioning and initial plant ramp-up.
The schedule has been updated to reflect the effects of shipping delays, regional supply constraints and seasonal weather conditions. Construction continues to advance in stages as equipment, materials and work areas become available.
Plant commissioning is currently planned through late October 2026, followed by ramp-up and initial processing during November 2026. Initial gold recovery remains targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to successful completion of construction, commissioning and ramp-up.
Table 1. Near-Term Barani Construction, Commissioning and Initial Processing Activities
| Activity | Current focus | Target period |
| Civil completion | Complete the remaining site and plant interfaces | September-October 2026 |
| Plant erection | Mechanical and electrical installation of the processing plant | September-October 2026 |
| Commissioning | Plant integration, testing and commissioning activities | Through late October 2026 |
| Ramp-up and initial processing | Progressive plant start-up and operating stabilization | November 2026 |
| Initial gold recovery | Subject to successful completion of construction, commissioning and ramp-up | Fourth quarter of 2026 |
Development and Economic Uncertainty
The Company has not established Mineral Reserves at Barani. Its decision to construct and commission the initial gravity plant and target initial processing has not been based on a feasibility study of Mineral Reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability.
Projects advanced without established Mineral Reserves and a supporting feasibility study have increased uncertainty and a higher risk of economic or technical failure. There is no assurance that construction and commissioning will be completed on the anticipated schedule, that initial processing or gold recovery will be achieved, or that the operation will be economically viable.
The current construction program relates specifically to the initial Barani gravity plant with a stated design capacity of 200 tonnes per day. The larger development scenario evaluated in the November 2025 preliminary economic assessment, which contemplated approximately 1,200 tonnes per day of gravity and carbon-in-leach processing at Barani and Gourbassi, is not part of the current construction program. Any future expansion toward that larger processing configuration would require additional technical work, applicable approvals and additional financing. There is no assurance that the required financing will be available or that the larger development scenario will proceed as currently contemplated.
Material risks associated with the initial Barani plant include construction and commissioning performance, equipment performance, metallurgical performance and recovery, operating and capital costs, the availability and characteristics of mineralized material, water availability, contractor and personnel availability, logistics, regional supply conditions, security, seasonal weather and other risks associated with mineral-development and processing activities.
References in this news release to initial processing and gold recovery describe targeted project milestones only. They should not be interpreted as a declaration of commercial production or as evidence that economic viability has been established.
Qualified Person Statement
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ty Magee, M.Sc., P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and an advisor and consultant to Desert Gold.
About Desert Gold Ventures
Desert Gold Ventures Inc. is a gold exploration and development company that controls properties in Mali and Côte d'Ivoire. These properties include the 440 km² SMSZ Project in western Mali, where the Company is constructing a 200 tonne-per-day gravity processing plant at Barani, and the 297 km² Tiegba Gold Project in Côte d'Ivoire within the Birimian greenstone belt.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the completion and timing of civil construction; plant erection and installation; commissioning and ramp-up; preparation and availability of mineralized material; the commencement and timing of initial processing; the timing and potential achievement of initial gold recovery; the availability and performance of contractors, personnel, equipment and materials; completion of the final hydrogeological report; continued site access; and the Company's ability to advance the Barani project in accordance with its current plans and applicable requirements.
Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations, estimates and assumptions. Material assumptions include that civil construction, plant erection and commissioning will proceed substantially in accordance with the current schedule; the processing plant and associated equipment will function sufficiently to permit commissioning, ramp-up and initial processing; sufficient mineralized material suitable for initial processing can be prepared and staged when required; contractors, personnel, fuel, materials and transportation will remain available; site access can be maintained; security and seasonal weather conditions will remain manageable; the final hydrogeological report can be completed and its recommendations implemented without material delay; and no material adverse operational or regulatory events will occur.
Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks include, but are not limited to, construction or commissioning delays; equipment failure or underperformance; contractor or personnel shortages; the availability or variability of mineralized material; lower-than-anticipated metallurgical performance or gold recovery; insufficient or unsuitable water supply; supply-chain and transportation disruptions; fuel shortages; adverse weather; security conditions; changes in applicable laws or regulatory requirements; and other risks associated with mineral exploration, development and processing activities.
Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable as of the date of this news release, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove correct. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact
Jared Scharf
President and Chief Executive Officer
Email: jared.scharf@desertgold.ca
Website: www.desertgold.ca
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/314518
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What is the design capacity and configuration of the initial Barani processing plant?
The current construction program covers an initial gravity processing plant at Barani with a stated design capacity of 200 tonnes per day. It is separate from the larger gravity and carbon‑in‑leach configuration evaluated at 1,200 tonnes per day in the November 2025 preliminary economic assessment.
How has Desert Gold adjusted the Barani project to local conditions and logistics?
The principal access route from Bourdala village to the Barani mine site has been rehabilitated to handle plant-equipment transport. Connections between Berola Camp, Barani Camp and the mine site are being maintained for access during heavy rainfall, and Barani Camp upgrades are prioritized to shorten the supply route and improve logistical efficiency during the wet season.
What are the key near-term construction and commissioning milestones at Barani?
From September–October 2026, the focus is on completing remaining civil works and plant erection, including mechanical and electrical installation. Commissioning activities are planned through late October 2026, followed by ramp‑up and initial processing during November 2026, with targeted initial gold recovery in the fourth quarter of 2026, all subject to successful completion of each preceding stage.
What has been learned so far about Barani’s water supply for operations?
A hydrogeological and geophysical siting campaign completed 15 survey lines and 688 stations, followed by four boreholes. Three boreholes maintained positive flow rates of 24, 9 and 8 cubic metres per hour. The company is awaiting the final hydrogeological report before finalizing its water-supply planning.