ASX-listed Theta Gold Mines has issued tenders for construction of the Theta mine’s plant, submitted its environmental-impact assessment for the starter Theta openpit project, in South Africa, and received its ball mall delivery.

The 2.5 MW, 60 t ball mill was successfully delivered to the Theta project site, in Pilgrim’s Rest, Mpumalanga, from Rustenburg, in the North West.

The ball mill delivery marked the progress of the project towards official start of construction and mining, which will result in much-needed jobs and income for the town.

The ball mill has been incorporated into the project’s revised and optimised plant design, which was amended to accommodate openpit mining methods, from previously underground mining methods.

The plant’s design allows for flexibility to easily expand production up to 1.2-million tonnes a year, should the project grow, the company says.

Meanwhile, Theta Gold Mines started its construction tender process based on a lump sum turnkey contract for the first stage – 600 000 t/y – gold plant construction.

The company expects to complete the plant build tenders by the end of the second quarter.

The project will take about nine months to build after the necessary approvals have been received.

The Theta project has probable reserves of 2.31-million tonnes grading 2.76 g/t gold. Total mineral resources are estimated at 44.79-million tonnes grading 4.18 g/t gold.

The project includes the Columbia Hill deposit and part of the Theta Hill deposit within Mining Right 83, which is fully authorised for underground mining, with a modification to include openpit mining in progress.

Modified terrace mining has been selected as the mining method and is suited to the mountainous profile of the topography. This method allows for the land to be reformed back to its original contours.

A May 2019 feasibility study envisaged a new carbon-in-leach plant, based on about 500 000 t/y of ore, with throughput being restricted by the existing tailings storage facility capacity of 2.5-million tonnes.

However, a plant optimisation study completed in January found that the throughput capacity at the plant could increase from the originally envisioned 500 000 t/y to 600 000 t/y at minimal costs.

The increased design parameters incorporate the newly bought 2.5 MW ball mill. The new mill arrived at the mine site in March in preparation for construction. 

The mine is expected to produce 200 905 oz of gold over the five-year life-of-mine.

The existing mine’s site footprint and 2.5-million-tonne tailings storage facility are permitted. The mine site has sheds, administration buildings and roads. Once financed, the new gold plant can be built in nine months on the existing mine site.

Once the mine is in production, other existing deposits can be brought on line as the project develops.