Caracal Gold PLC (LSE:GCAT) said construction of a new heap leach plant to help maximise the gold recovered from its Kilimapesa mining and processing operations in Kenya is on schedule and is expected to positively impact cash flow, in line with the company's projections.
The first 5,000 tonnes per month (tpm) pad for the heap leach operation has been completed, loaded with ore and is being commissioned. It will act as a 'pilot plant', with the full heap leach plant operation to be expanded up to a capacity of 20,000tpm, said London-listed Caracal.
The metallurgical test work completed for the heap leach plant showed excellent gold recoveries, and the initial recoveries from the first 5,000 tonnes (t) processed on site are firmly in line with this, it said.
“The commissioning of this new facility enables us to treat the 40,000t of low-grade material stockpiled over the last few months and is another key milestone in the major expansion program currently being implemented at our Kilimapesa gold mining and processing operations," said Kilimapesa general manager Riaan Lombard.