Accelerating large-scale TSF lining supply ahead of the rainy season at Boto mine

Overview 

The Boto gold mine, owned by Managem Group, is situated in the eastern region of Senegal, near the borders of Mali and Guinea and 88 km from the city of Kédougou. The project includes an open-pit operation extracting 35 million tonnes of rock annually, a 2.75 Mtpa processing plant, and extensive infrastructure such as a 23 MW power plant, water dam, accommodation camp, road network, and a tailings storage facility. The mine is expected to produce an average of 160,000 ounces of gold per year during its first three years, supported by mineral reserves of 1.8 million ounces and a projected 12-year life.

Construction progressed rapidly and Solmax worked closely with an EPCM provider, to supply the lining system for the tailings storage facility. A key requirement of the project was the rapid mobilisation of large-scale geosynthetic materials to ensure installation could begin before the rainy season and keep the mine commissioning schedule on track.

Challenge

The central challenge was delivering more than 2.2 million m² of geosynthetics for the tailings storage facility within a six-month window. This included 2,000,000 m² of GSE® HD 1.5 mm Black Smooth geomembrane and 230,000 m² of MIRAFI^® P 40 used as a protection layer, together with accessory components such as GSE Polylock T and welding rods.

The installation schedule was fixed by seasonal constraints: construction on the tailings facility had to begin before the onset of the rainy season to avoid delays that would affect commissioning. The requirement for additional quantities beyond the initial specification added further pressure to production and logistics. Procurement also took place during a period of evolving national regulations, requiring close coordination to maintain the delivery sequence.

Solution

Solmax supplied the complete tailings storage facility lining system, and the accelerated delivery was achieved through integrated planning across all internal departments and continuous communication with the EPCM team. This approach ensured that materials arrived in the required sequence, allowing installation to commence before seasonal weather constraints. The project was completed to the satisfaction of all parties and reinforced Solmax’s position as a premium supplier for Managem.

The successful execution demonstrated the value of coordinated supply chain management, clear communication with project stakeholders, and the ability to meet large-scale delivery requirements within compressed timelines. It also strengthened Solmax’s partnership with Managem, supporting future strategic mining developments in the region.