JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim-listed Goldplat has commissioned the first stage of its new processing plant at its Kenya-based subsidiary, Kilimapesa Gold.
Planned production at the processing plant is 60 t/d, which, together with ongoing production from the existing plant, equates to the production of some 4 600 oz/y of gold, compared with the 2 005 oz produced in the 2016 financial year.
The plant has a designed capacity of 200 t/d and comprises a crusher circuit, mills, a thickener, leach tanks, an elution plant and a tailings deposition facility.
“I am pleased with the board's decision to proceed with an expansion plan at our Kilimapesa gold mine, which represents an investment of the order of $2-million. Although it is modest in terms of production, we believe it will result in the commencement of sustainable profitability at Kilimapesa,” CEO Gerard Kisby-Green said in a statement on Monday.
Work on Stage 2, which involves the installation of the crusher circuit and an additional three leach tanks, has begun, with commissioning expected in April.
“At this stage the new plant is expected to process 120 t/d and once the plant is fully commissioned and producing at a steady state, a yearly rate of 4 500 oz of gold is planned.”
The old plant will continue to produce about 2 300 oz/y of gold as long as tailings capacity exists, resulting in a potential total production rate of 6 800 oz/y of gold.
Stage 3 will be planned and commenced with based on the performance of the operation once steady-state is achieved.