The B2Gold (BTO.to) newsflow trifecta : Part one

I'm expecting three positive stories from B2Gold in the near future. Today saw part one, as the Orosi mine went on line (maybe one month late, but totally forgiveable) and poured gold today. Here's the yada yada out 13 minutes before the closing bell (and good for a 5c pop late trading):

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - 01/05/10) - B2Gold Corp. (TSX:BTO - News) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce gold and silver production has commenced at the Company's Orosi open pit mine in Nicaragua. The mine and milling facilities have passed mechanical completion and commissioning. Ore processing began on December 15th, 2009 with the first dore bar produced on January 5th, 2010.

The Orosi Mine is scheduled to produce approximately 80,000 to 90,000 ounces of gold per year at an estimated average operating cash cost of approximately $465 per ounce with an initial seven year mine life. The large Orosi property has excellent exploration targets both adjacent to and below currently planned open pits and along the 20 kilometre belt of mineralization contained on the property. Exploration drilling will commence in the first quarter of 2010.

In addition to the Orosi Mine, the Company's Limon Mine, also producing in Nicaragua, is scheduled to produce approximately 40,000 ounces of gold annually. The combined production is projected at 120,000 to 130,000 ounces in 2010 with average operating cash costs projected at approximately $500 to $525 per ounce of gold. Both the Orosi and Limon mines are debt free and un-hedged.

Over the next few months, the Orosi mill is scheduled to yada yada continues here

Two more stories to come. Keep it on your screen.