Tolu Minerals is set to invest in a set of twin multifunctional undergorund drives at the Tolukuma gold mine.
This major piece of long-term infrastructure will provide for ravity dewatering, improved ventilation and expanded void capacity.
The dual side-by-side access drives will further increase safety at the mine, with greater emergency access when required. They also allow for underground exploration hubs, with improved drill platforms, better intercept angles, shorter drill distances, and materially lower drilling costs.
The project will be offered up for competitive tender, with documentation expected to be released this month.
Among other updates, the company has welcomed the first of its new Epiroc drill rigs on site. These will support the planned resource targets for 2026, with Tolu planning to drill 30,000 metres of exploration and resource expansion holes over the next calendar year.
In addition, the mine has revamped its personnel transport arrangements, with 6×6 wheel buses set to tackle the newly-minted access road from early 2026.
Tolu Minerals chief executive officer and managing director Chris Muller said there had been a surge of activity across the mine’s key projects over the last two months.
“Review of key projects and the assessing of 2026 priorities will see Tolu advance its growth strategies at Tolukuma with its focus on achieving upgraded resources and significant infrastructure advancements including the critical underground developments supported by the initiation of the Twin-Drives developments at the mine,” he said.
“This will deliver enhanced underground access for dewatering, ventilation, power supply, and exploration drives, and will significantly improve resource growth opportunities while also offering potential for major tailings management solutions.”
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