Tolu Minerals has installed the modular gravity recovery plant at its Tolukuma gold mine, paving the way for final commissioning and testing.
The plant is an integral part of the phased restart at Tolukuma, contributing to revenue by producing a gold/silver doré for sale.
It will also allow for advanced testwork on comminution performance and gold and silver gravity recovery.
Tolu is on the path to initial production from Tolukuma, targeting a production rate of 2000 ounces of gold per month by the end of the year.
“The commencement of final hot commissioning of the modular gravity gold plant is a major milestone in the development of Tolu and the return of [the] Tolukuma mine to high-grade gold and silver production with commencement of revenue generation,” Tolu managing director and chief executive officer Iain Macpherson said.
“Industry-leading geotube technology is being deployed to temporarily store tailings to facilitate efficient and safe decanting of water and provide insight into the use of the technology as a potential long-term aide to tailings storage.”
The plant has been designed in partnership with South Africa based Appropriate Process Technologies based on historical testwork and operating parameters from the 20-year period that Tolukuma was operational.
Tolu is currently undertaking training of management, operating and maintenance staff while the commissioning engineers and inspectors are on-site.
“The plant throughput and modular expansion capability is designed to match the mine’s production ramp-up schedule while enabling lower operating costs,” Macpherson said.
“Not only will it generate revenue, but it will also enable testing of more effective processing, including enhanced silver recovery.”
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