MMCZ, Chandiwana Mining in partnership over Kwekwe refractory plant

Tinashe Makichi

The Minerals and Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe and a local mining investment consortium have entered into an agreement to revive the Kwekwe based-Roasting refractory plant.

The roasting plant was established in 1937 by the then Government of Rhodesia to assist small and medium scale miners around Kwekwe in the processing of dumps or refractory gold ore. It ceased operation in 2000 and government transferred ownership of the assets to Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ)

These dumps have an estimated 350 000 metric tonnes of ore and according to Peacocke and Simpsons Mineral Processors, they contain 97 220 ounces of gold.

And now, almost two decades later, MMCZ has engaged Chandiwana Mining Corporation as it seeks to make recoveries of 80-85% using patented technology.

The investment firm is also in a joint venture partnership with Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) at Sabi Gold Mine.

Chandiwana Mining Corporation managing director Brian Chandiwana confirmed the agreement but referred all questions to MMCZ who are the custodians of the project.

“As Chandiwana we are just contractors on the project. So far we have managed to do lab tests and we have since moved to the pilot plant phase. It’s an MMCZ project and we are just contractors,” said Chandiwana.

A source close to developments said Chandiwana is in the processing of setting up a plant right after striking an agreement to revive the operation.

“Chandiwana Mining Corporation reached an agreement with MMCZ where the earlier will be undertaking revival works of the operation. A pilot plant is being set up at the moment and the results so far look promising,” said the source.

The agreement with Chandiwana comes after there had been viability concerns raised around the resuscitation of the plant and a lot of investors have been unwilling to commit their funds on the project. However Chandiwana is optimistic that the technology will work as it had been tested at various academic institutions.

While operational, the roasting plant was processing at least 10 percent of the national gold output and the gold was mainly coming from small and medium miners.

About 26 mines used to get services from the plant and after it shut down all the mines closed. The Kwekwe roasting plant has capacity to process about 9 000 to 10 000 tonnes of concentrate per annum.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button