Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
KAVANGO Resources has progressed its Hillside Gold Project in Zimbabwe towards commercial production following the commissioning of a 50-tonne-per-day pilot processing plant, marking a significant milestone for the company.
The Hillside project holds significant strategic importance for Kavango as a “proof-of-concept” flagship asset designed to scale into a meaningful gold production hub within the under-explored Filabusi Greenstone Belt of Zimbabwe.
If successful, it would boost Zimbabwe’s burgeoning gold production, which reached a record 47,6 tonnes last year and is forecast to rise to 50 tonnes this year.
Gold is strategically key to Zimbabwe’s economy as the country’s largest export earner.
The Hillside project hosts an estimated 33 900 ounces of gold at an average grade of 2,68 grammes per tonne (g/t). Exploration has shown high-grade potential increasing at depth.
The Southern Africa-focused metals exploration and gold development company received permission from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to commission its Hillside processing plant and Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) on October 30.
This development enables the company to validate its processing flowsheet, confirm gold recoveries under operational conditions and generate technical data to inform the design of a larger commercial facility.
United Kingdom-listed Kavango chief executive officer Jasper Musadaidzwa said the commissioning was an important step towards commercial operations.
“Achieving statutory commissioning of the processing plant and TSF is a significant milestone for Hillside and an important step towards commercial-scale operations.
The concept phase plant enables us to optimise processing performance, confirm metallurgical recoveries under operating conditions and further refine our understanding of the orebody ahead of larger-scale development.
“With expected gold recoveries of 90-93 percent from Hillside, we believe the project has the potential to become a meaningful and scalable gold production centre within our portfolio.”
The pilot plant incorporates crushing, milling, gravity concentration and a carbon-in-leach (CIL) circuit, with commissioning involving the processing of run-of-mine ore, previously stockpiled gold-bearing sands and freshly milled sands from Hillside.
Kavango reported that gold was effectively absorbed in the pilot CIL circuit, with production rising from 397 grams in August’s first elution to 539 grams in September.
This operational data will inform future development and expansion decisions as the company aims for larger-scale production.
The Hillside project is anchored by the Bill’s Luck underground deposit, which hosts a (Joint Ore Reserves Committee) JORC-compliant Mineral Resource of 33 900 ounces of gold at a grade of 2,68 grammes per tonne.
Metallurgical test work undertaken on blends of Nightshift and Bill’s Luck ore achieved recoveries of more than 95 percent under laboratory conditions, with expected operating recoveries of between 90 and 93 percent under commercial plant conditions.
The company is also upgrading site infrastructure to support future production growth.
“Alongside commissioning, we are continuing to upgrade site infrastructure to support future growth and expansion. 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.
“Through this work, we are establishing the foundations to unlock the full value of the Hillside Gold Project,” Musadaidzwa said.
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development’s Matabeleland South office declared both the plant and TSF commissioned and operational after reviewing relevant documentation and conducting site visits.
The facilities were found to comply with applicable mining, safety and environmental requirements.
Kavango said the technical and operating information generated by the pilot plant would support decisions on the development of a larger processing facility, as the company seeks to establish Hillside as a scalable gold production centre.
