Gold explorer and developer Lake Victoria Gold (LVG) has announced that its subsidiary, Tembo Gold – holder of Mining Licence ML 538/2015 over the fully permitted Imwelo gold project, in northwestern Tanzania – has formalised the appointment of City Engineering Company (CECL) as primary engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor, in association with Sutton Consulting International as international technical-support partner.

LVG says the appointment of CECL received approval from Tanzania’s Mining Commission on June 29, and is structured in accordance with the country’s Mining Regulations of 2018.

The approved EPCM structure consolidates engineering and development workstreams already under way at Imwelo under a single Tanzanian-led project delivery framework.

LVG explains that key development workstreams are advancing, including tailings and water infrastructure design, geotechnical and hydrogeological studies, process plant optimisation, procurement support and construction quality assurance.

The company says the appointment represents an important execution milestone for LVG as it advances Imwelo through final engineering, procurement planning and construction preparation.

LVG notes that project advancement continues alongside financing activities, including the previously announced gold loan facility term sheet of up to about $25-million with financial services company Monetary Metals & Co, which remains subject to the satisfaction of conditions and receipt of required regulatory approvals.

LVG president and CEO Marc Cernovitch describes this as a key milestone in preparing Imwelo for construction.

With Mining Commission approval received and the company’s EPCM structure now formalised, he says the company has moved another important step closer to building one of Tanzania's next new gold mines.

“Equally important, we are advancing Imwelo the right way,” he says.

Cernovitch comments that Tanzania has a clear regulatory framework for local content and mining project development, adding that long-term success in the country requires working constructively with the Mining Commission, respecting that framework and ensuring Tanzanian companies and professionals play a meaningful role in project execution.

“CECL and Sutton give us the right platform to do that,” he says, noting that CECL brings Tanzanian leadership, local engineering capability and in-country execution capacity, while Sutton adds specialist international technical support and African mine-development experience.

“Together, they provide the structure we need to move final engineering, procurement planning and construction preparation forward in a disciplined and compliant manner."