TSX-V-listed Thor Explorations expects to pour its first gold from the Segilola gold project, in Nigeria, before the end of July, as it starts the commissioning of the gold processing plant following the successful turning of the mills.
Remaining work is focused primarily on the gold room, elution and electrowinning circuit, power connection, instrumentation and control installations.
The process plant is being commissioned in phases, with commissioning having already started at the power plant. Commissioning of the SAG and ball mills and the crushing section will follow.
Thereafter, commissioning will continue with the remaining areas of the process plant.
Mining is under way, with 700 000 t of waste mined and 30 000 t of ore stockpiled in preparation for process plant commissioning.
The pit is fully prepared for mining operations, with pre-strip nearing completion, the miner said in a statement on July 19.
The mining fleet is now fully commissioned and production is expected to quickly ramp up to its design capacity. All the necessary permits are in place and blasting operations have started as the company moves into the harder transitional and fresh ore zones.