adminTinashe Makichi Harare Bureau
Metallon Gold Corporation will re-open Redwing Mine by the end of October this year after missing the previous deadline of July 2015 due to late delivery of equipment coupled with unforeseen contractual delays. Redwing Mine was forced to shut down its operations six years ago due to excessive flooding from Mutare River as well as poor gold prices during the Zimbabwe dollar era.
In a statement yesterday, Metallon said installation of services and rehabilitation of underground areas above six level and Redwing Mine has progressed well and a reasonable amount of ore had been stockpiled on surface.
“The refurbishment of surface metallurgical plant circuit is now at advanced stages. The late delivery of materials and spares coupled with unforeseen contractual delays has slowed down completion of expected works,” said the mining group.
Metallon said 50 percent of the work expected has been completed and commissioning is targeted for the end of October 2015.
The gold mining group said work continues on the Sands Retreatment Project at Mazowe Mine where construction of civil engineering work commenced in March 2015 and is approximately 70 percent complete.
Metallon said fabrication of the 60,000 tonnes per month plant by Baldmin Engineering in South Africa is approximately 70 percent complete and will be delivered on site in the coming weeks. “Plant erection on site will commence in August 2015 with commissioning of the plant on track for October 2015. The Sands Retreatment Project will deliver gold at a grade of about 1.3 grammes per tonne to produce approximately 2,000 ounces of gold each month for six years,” said Metallon.
In April 2015 Metallon appointed Fraser Alexander Zimbabwe for the construction of the Shamva Mine 27-hectare tailing facility. Mobilisation of staff and equipment commenced in May 2015.
Metallon said excavating by the dozer of the starter wall area, the return water pond, the camp site and the two access roads to the dam and camp site have been completed.
The company said soil baseline test pits have been dug and soil profile samples have been sent to the laboratory for analysis.
“Once soil sample results are received, construction of the starter wall will commence. Commissioning is expected in mid-October 2015,” said the mining group.
Metallon Corporation chief executive Kenneth Mekani said the group is focused on increasing production to full capacity at all mining operations.
“Throughout the first half of 2015, Metallon has been focused on increasing production to full capacity at all mining operations and continuing work on new projects that will add further production in the second half of the year.
“We’re pleased with the progress of our new projects and look forward to the commissioning of the Mazowe Sands Retreatment Plant and the Shamva tailing facility and the reopening of Redwing Mine in the fourth quarter of 2015,” said Mekani.
Metallon Corporation is a gold mining group with producing assets in Zimbabwe and exploration assets in Zimbabwe, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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