Enor started leaching operations at the mine in late December, separating the gold from the ore, and expects to start commercial production within five months.

The mine, part of the Tirek-Amesmessa mine complex in Tamanrasset province, contains high-grade gold deposits, with proven and probable reserves estimated to total 748,000 tonnes of ore. This would produce an estimated 294,000 ounces of gold.

Enor is 52 per cent owned by London-based GMA Resources. The remaining stakeholders are a consortium of Algerian entities. These include state-owned Sonatrach and Bank of Algeria, both with 16 per cent shareholdings, and Algerian Insurance, with 8 per cent.