Modern Mining November 2021

GOLD

Singida Gold Project on track for first Construction at Shanta Gold’s Singida Gold Project in Tanzania remains on track for first production in early 2023, with key construction milestones achieved thus far. CEO Eric Zurrin tells Modern Mining that reaching the production landmark will propel the company into an over 100 000 oz per year producer in the near term, while maintaining an attractive cost base. By Munesu Shoko .

H aving commenced construction late last year at its Singida Gold Project in central Tanzania, East Africa-focused gold producer and explorer, Shanta Gold (AIM: SHG), has announced that the project continues to progress on schedule. Commenting on some of the milestones of note thus far, CEO Eric Zurrin says open-pit min- ing operations commenced at the Gold Tree pit on September 15 this year, with the company recording its first successful open-pit blast on October 15, 2021. Meanwhile, stockpiling of ore is underway. In addition, the tailings storage facility dam design has been completed, with all permits received and approval granted by the regulators to commence construction. Key infrastructure such as bulk power, water, buildings and fencing are progressing on track. The crushing circuit, designed and manufactured by the Metso Outotec Group, has been completed. Shipment started in September, with site delivery expected in November and December 2021.

Eric Zurrin, CEO of Shanta Gold. “The crushing circuit is a modular crushing and screening plant. We selected this option as it is the same type of plant we use at our flagship produc- ing asset, New Luika, and we aim to leverage our operational and technical know-how to replicate suc- cess across our entire portfolio of assets. The mill is designed at 360 000 tonnes per annum (tpa). The crushing plant capacity is 150 tph or 1,1-million tpa, which provides spare capacity to double the mill- ing capacity without affecting the crusher,” explains Zurrin. Meanwhile, manufacturing of the grinding & grav- ity circuit mill is ongoing. Manufactured by NCP in

Community investment initiatives have commenced, including the upgrading of roads and surrounding infrastructure.

14  MODERN MINING  November 2021