JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Multicommodity miner Mwana Africa on Thursday reported that gold production at its Freda Rebecca gold mine, in Zimbabwe, increased 19% quarter-on-quarter to 17 536 oz for the three months ended September 30, as a result of increased mill throughput and improved recoveries.

Recoveries of 84% were achieved at the operation – the highest average recoveries to date in 2013. The increase in recoveries was mostly as a result of improved leaching efficiencies and the increased residence time owing to the completion of leach tank 3 on August 1.

However, Mwana stated that, while throughput and recoveries were improving, they remained a key focus area for further improvement.

Meanwhile, the Freda Rebecca mine’s cash costs declined 12%, from $949/oz during the previous quarter, to $837/oz in the quarter under review.

Mwana also pointed out that construction on the mine’s pilot plant for tailings retreatment was successfully completed during the quarter and being commissioned.

Further, Mwana subsidiary Bindura Nickel Corporation (BNC) saw a 119% quarter-on-quarter increase in nickel-in-concentrate sales to 1 505 t from its Trojan operation, in Zimbabwe.

“At Trojan, the BNC team completed a new mine plan to maximise returns and improve cashflow by targeting the higher-grade massive zones. The results thus far have been very pleasing with record production months being recorded in this quarter,” Mwana CEO Kalaa Mpinga commented. 

Underground production at Trojan was ramped up during the quarter, resulting in a 38% increase in tonnage, compared with the previous quarter. 

Recoveries of 88.6% were achieved during the quarter, up from 69.7% during the previous quarter, while cash costs decreased from $19 251/t to $9 689/t. 

Meanwhile, Mwana’s Zani-Kodo project resource was yet again upgraded during the quarter, Mpinga said.

The mine’s total combined Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant gold resources now stood at 2.98-million ounces at a grade of 2.43 g/t, based on a cutoff grade of 0.5 g/t, which was an increase of 13% on the February 2013 resource update.

Further, planned geophysical and geological surveys at the company’s Katanga Copper Hailiang joint venture had been completed, with a number of high-priority targets having been identified for follow-up exploration.

A reverse circulation drilling campaign was also under way at the Lusano area of the copper project.

“In conjunction with these operational achievements, Mwana has successfully planned for and executed a strategy to derisk its future development following the implementation of a number of cost saving initiatives and two share placings. The company is now stabilised and able to focus on delivering value on all our projects,” Mpinga concluded.