RioZim ramp up production at Cam & Motor
Diversified miner RioZim is set to ramp up gold production at Cam & Motor in Kadoma after some challenges experienced during the early stages of commissioning the Biological Oxidation plant were resolved, according to official correspondence.
The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed group commissioned a US$17 million BIOX plant at Cam and Motor in April this year, but experienced some “teething problems.”
Biological Oxidation is the latest technology that ensures better processing of gold ores with high sulphur content. Ores at Cam and Motor gold mine contain high sulphur concentration and increase cyanide consumption during the leaching process.
The technology uses bacteria to reduce sulphur content before cyanidation. The BIOX plant is one of the key projects expected to get the firm’s turnaround strategy back on track.
The BIOX plant was meant to ensure continued operations of Cam & Motor after RioZim invested US$50 million into the mine.
During the first half of the year, gold production declined by 30 percent to 393 kg compared to 564 kg achieved in the same period in the prior year.
The subdued production was mainly attributable to the negligible production output at Dalny during the period coupled with under capacity utilisation at Cam & Motor after discontinuance of the one step operation to pave way for the resumption of mining activities at the mine.
Production at Cam and Motor for the period was depressed at 211 kg even though this was a slight improvement from 181kg achieved in the comparative period.-ebusinessweekly
