By ETimes
HARARE – KAVANGO Resources has received government approval to commission its 50-tonne-per-day Hillside gold processing plant and tailings storage facility in Zimbabwe, as the company prepares for a larger commercial-scale gold operation.
The Southern Africa-focused metals explorer and gold developer, listed in London and on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, said the concept-phase plant at its Hillside Gold Project had cleared statutory commissioning.
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development in Matabeleland South declared the plant and tailings facility operational on October 30, finding both met mining, safety and environmental requirements after a document review and site visits.
The plant is processing run-of-mine ore, stockpiled gold-bearing sands and freshly milled sands through crushing, milling, gravity concentration and a carbon-in-leach circuit. Gold production rose 35.8% to 539 grammes in September from 397 grammes at the first elution in August.
Chief Executive Jasper Musadaidzwa said the approval was a turning point for the project.
“Achieving statutory commissioning of the processing plant and TSF is a significant milestone for Hillside and an important step towards commercial-scale operations,” he said.
Bill’s Luck underground hosts a JORC-compliant resource of 33,900 ounces of gold at 2.68 grammes per tonne, while laboratory tests on ore blends achieved recoveries above 95%, the company said.
Expected operating recoveries under commercial conditions are 90% to 93%.
“With expected gold recoveries of 90-93% from Hillside, we believe the project has the potential to become a meaningful and scalable gold production centre within our portfolio,” he said.
Work is also under way on a 13-metre headframe at the Bill’s Luck Main Vertical Shaft, power and water supply upgrades, exploration planning and an enhanced employee accommodation camp.
“Our focus is now on improving operational efficiencies and generating the technical and operating data required to support the design and development of a commercial-scale processing facility,” Musadaidzwa added.
Discover more from Etimes
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.