Phase One of the gold processing project by Consolidated Gold Company Limited -CGCZ- has started in Rufunsa.
The project involves 10 gold milling plants with a processing capacity of 30 tonnes of ore per day and a production target of an average 7.5 kilograms per month.
ZCCM-IH Public Relations Manager, Loisa Kakoma has confirmed to ZNBC News adding that the next stage of the project is also underway and involves the setting up of a gold leaching plant which will chemically process gold stock piles from two old gold mines.
The gold leaching plant is scheduled to be completed by June 2020 and will have a processing capacity of 8,000 tonnes of ore material per leach and a targeted gold production of 17.5 kilograms per month.
The total targeted gold production envisaged is 25 kilograms per month from both the milling and leaching plants.
ZCCM-IH has invested approximately 3.15 Million dollars in the two production lines, following the successful completion and launch of a gold laboratory, set at a total cost of 250,000 dollars in Lusaka.
And, ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer Mabvuto Chipata, who recently visited the site to check on progress, is impressed that the project is on course despite a few delays in bringing in equipment from manufacturers outside the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Chipata said ZCCM-IH planned to officially launch the project by July 2020 once a few gold dore bars are produced.
And, CGCZ Chief Executive Officer Faisal Keer said the business model involves working with various artisanal and small scale gold miners in providing access to the milling plants, with the view to increase gold production.
Mr Keer said the company is also helping licensed small scale gold miners with mining technical expertise and safety, and also providing access to earth moving machinery to increase gold ore production that is subsequently processed using the milling plants
Phase two of the project, which will involve setting-up of the same model in Mumbwa District is expected to start before the end of the year.
CGCZ, is a gold processing and trading Joint Venture partnership between Karma Mining Services and Rural Development with 55 percent while ZCCM-IH has 45 percent .
Source: https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/rufunsa-starts-gold-processing/?fbclid=IwAR12RSJF3RVVufLTUBFw6NRqJbgFbxWs6ekJCb5edNkaHAeeQ5NC9ZeiHIQ