adminDosman Mangisi, Mining Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has signed an agreement with a local engineering firm for the supply of mining equipment to small-scale miners.
Under the agreement, Yagden Engineering, which operates in Bulawayo and Harare, will supply the first consignment of eight gold crushing and milling machinery on zero deposit.
Each unit of the equipment costs about $32,000.
Only those small scale miners who sell their gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners, the sole gold buying agent in the country, qualify for the scheme.
Yagden engineer Wayne Williams, the designer of the milling equipment named “Bambazonke” gold crushing and milling, confirmed the deal.
He said one unit has already been installed at Turtle 54 gold mine in the first week of November in Silobela, Kwekwe, Midlands province.
ZMF identified the first beneficiaries who have a record of high gold returns.
“We’ve entered into a deal with small scale miners under ZMF to capacitate the operations of gold miners mainly on crushing and milling their ores,” said Williams.
“We considered challenges of crushing and milling in the sector where a majority take their ores to custom millers where the recovery is very low. Our first dispatch of the Bambazonke plant has already been supplied to Silobela in Kwekwe. We’re loaning at zero deposit on the basis of gold returns of the miner and as agreed between Yagden and ZMF.”
He said the scheme was meant to promote transparency in the small scale gold mining sector and empower ordinary people.
Williams said their equipment has up to 90 percent gold recovery compared to stamp mills which are at 30 percent.
The Bambazonke gold milling plant is a low cost locally designed plant that caters for the needs of small scale miners.
The equipment has the capacity to mill two tonnes of gold ore per hour.
It consists of a jaw crusher, conveyor belt, mill and concentrator and can mill dry or wet ores.
However, dry ores are recommended for higher recovery.
The equipment is movable in the event that gold deposits are exhausted.
ZMF chief executive officer Wellington Takavarasha said the deal would yield more results for the gold sector.
“We entered into a deal with Yagden Engineering. This is a shot in the arm for us especially at a time when the government is struggling to fund crucial projects in the mining sector,” he said.
“It’s been so difficult to get funders for the small scale mining sector because financers are yet to understand the model of the sector in the country.
“We’ve an off take of eight crushing and milling units. We’ve agreed on the basis of gold returns remitted to Fidelity to be the condition because the issue of collateral security is still a challenge especially on evaluations of gold claims. We expect positive results from this.”
There are about 460 gold millers in the country servicing an estimated 25,000 licensed gold miners, a figure way below the expected given the number of players in the sector.
Most miners use stamp mills which are outdated the world over and are being phased out.
Online Reporter