By Nyamayaro Chitsinde
RESOURCES firm Caledonia Mining Corporation has set an ambitious 80 000 ounces of gold per year following the completion of the US$67 million Central Shaft at Blanket Mine in Gwanda.
Central Shaft is said to be the deepest shaft in the country.
Caledonia Mining chief executive officer Steve Curtis said commissioning of the shaft would help to bring a news lease of life to the Matabeleland South based mine.
“I am delighted to announce that our new central shaft, which is the deepest shaft of any gold mine in Zimbabwe, is fully operational.
“We can now start to hoist rock, men and material on a daily basis, which will solve our hoisting constraints and facilitate the planned expansion in mine capacity targeting 80 000oz (ounces) of gold production per year.
“This has been an owner-funded and built project by the Blanket team and I would like to thank everyone for their hard work and especially for achieving the completion of the shaft without any serious accidents, recording only two lost time injuries,” Curtis said.
Central shaft is expected to help the mine improve its gold produce from 67 0000oz to around 80 000z.
