Perseus Mining Limited announced that the development and commissioning of its second gold mine, the Sissingué Gold Mine in Côte d'Ivoire, is nearing completion with the introduction of crushed ore to the mill and the CIL plant on January 13, 2018. First gold is expected to be produced at Sissingué ahead of schedule, prior to the end of January 2018, and the ramp up to full scale commercial production is expected to be achieved by March 31, 2018. The estimated capital cost of the full development of the Sissingué mine and infrastructure, excluding early works but including operational readiness initiatives, was $107 million and on current estimates this budget will not be exceeded. Based on the updated life of mine plan for Sissingué published in March 2017, estimated gold production totals 358,000 ounces over the life of mine including approximately 80,000 ounces per annum for the first 3.25 years and approximately 70,000 ounces per annum over the full 5 year life of mine. Forecast average weighted all-in site costs, including all direct production costs, royalties, waste stripping costs and sustaining capital expenditure, are estimated at approximately $625 per ounce in the first 3.25 years of production and approximately $630 per ounce over the full mine life. Significant potential exists to increase Sissingué's currently delineated Mineral Resources, Ore Reserves and mine life. Exploration programmes targeting mineralisation located within trucking distance of the mine have been developed and are scheduled to be implemented once the mine is generating positive cash flows.