* H1 EBITDA beats consensus by 8% * Looking for partner/buyer for Batie West project * H1 dividend cut, shares fall 3% (Adds H1 EBITDA, shares, analyst) Aug 5 (Reuters) - Gold miner Centamin reported a smaller than expected fall in first-half earnings on Thursday and said it was looking for a buyer or partner for its Burkina Faso project. The London-listed miner, which operates the Sukari Gold Mine in Egypt, said an internal review showed the Batie West project in Burkina Faso did not meet its investment criteria. First-half earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) came in at $190.4 million, down from $256.2 million a year earlier, but 8% ahead of analysts’ average estimate. Earnings fell largely due to a planned reduction in gold production at Sukari, which pushed overall output lower by 20% year-on-year to 204,275 ounces, the company said. The production cuts are part of a three-year reset plan for the Sukari mine. Centamin shares, part of the FTSE midcap index, were down 3% to 102.85 pence at 0955 GMT. Investors seem to be taking a “wait and watch approach,” said BMO Capital Markets analyst Raj Ray. “The market will be looking to the Sukari Phase 2 life-of-mine review in Q4/21 to get a better idea for the long-term potential of the Sukari asset. So despite earnings exceeding expectations ... there does not seem to be a rush to own the stock at this point.” Average realised gold prices rose 9% in the first half, Centamin said, as safe-haven buying due to the COVID-19 pandemic boosted bullion prices. The company also declared an interim dividend of 4 cents per share, down from 6 cents a year earlier. It kept its guidance for production, cost and capital spending for the full year. (Reporting by Shanima A in Bengaluru Editing by Uttaresh.V and Mark Potter) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.