Name of the project and location
Tarkwa expansion project, Ghana.

Project description
Gold Fields has announced two significant expansion projects at its Tarkwa gold mine, in Ghana.

The first relates to the expansion of the existing carbon-in-leach (CIL) process plant facility from a design tonnage throughput capacity of 4,2-million tons a year to 12-million tons a year. In addition to the main process plant, this project also entails an expansion of the tailings storage facilities and associated infrastructure.

The second project is an expansion of Tarkwa’s north heap-leach facility by adding an additional heap-leach pad (Phase 5) to the north heap leach complex. Phase 5 will add 39-million tons stacking capacity to the current area and will enable continuation of stacking at the north facility until June 2011. Construction of the phase 5 facility is also expected to begin in the first quarter of calendar 2007, with commissioning scheduled to be completed by midcalendar 2008.

The expansion projects will maintain the total ore tonnage treated at about 21,6-million tons a year, comprising 9,6-million tons a year of heap leach and 12-million tons a year of milled ore. It will enable gold production to be maintained at a level over 700 000 oz/y until 2021, minimise the suboptimal processing of ore by improving the overall recovery and decrease the processing unit operating cost through economies of scale.

Value
The capital cost for the expansion of the CIL is estimated at $126-million (R900-million).

Budgeted capital expenditure for the phase 5 facility is $-49 million (R350-million), comprising $35-million to expand the leach pads, and $14-million to build associated infrastructure and services required for phase 5 and subsequent phases 6 to 8 of the leach-pad complex.

Duration
Construction of the CIL is expected to start in the first quarter of 2007, with commissioning scheduled to be completed by the second half of 2008.

Construction of the phase 5 facility is also expected to begin in the first quarter of calendar 2007, with commissioning scheduled to be completed by midcalendar 2008.

Breakdown of main contracts
Not stated.

Client
Gold Fields.

Latest developments
None stated.

Participants
None stated.

Construction materials
Not stated.

On budget and on time?
Construction will begin in the first quarter of 2007.

Contact details for project information
Gold Fields, tel (011) 644 2400 or fax (011) 484 0626.