Chronicle Editor
Government is seeking an investor to retool and operate a specialised gold processing firm located in Kwekwe. Mines and Mining Development Permanent Secretary Professor Francis Gudyanga said in a statement yesterday that Government wanted to re-establish operations at the defunct Midlands-based refractory gold processor.
Refractory gold is ore that is naturally resistant to recovery using the standard method of cyanidation and requires additional technique.
“The Edward Roasters equipment at the roasting plant is old and the technology antiquated and no longer regarded as suitable from an environmental and efficiency point of view,” Prof Gudyanga said in a statement.
The firm was established in 1937. When operating efficiently, the refractory gold processor recovers at least 75 percent of the yellow metal from the ore.
But due to inefficiencies, the Government said there was an estimated 625 000 tonnes of gold dumps with an average of 10 grammes per tonne which required to be processed once operations resume at the plant. Prof Gudyanga said work done elsewhere indicated that about 60 percent of the gold could be recovered from the dump.
“On this basis, the dump potentially has at least 3 750 kg recoverable bullion gold,” he said.
He said the gold processing plant would bank on future business from other gold mines in the country which are likely to hit refractory patches in the course of their operations.
Zimbabwe is estimated to have vast amounts of refractory gold ore deposits, with a belt running from Chegutu in Mashonaland West to Gwanda in Matabeleland South.
Prof Gudyanga said in addition to having the financial and technical capacity to run the operation, the potential investor should also be willing to partner the Government and other stakeholders. – New Ziana.
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