Modern Mining September 2017

GOLD

Elikhulu tailings project moves into construction

Pan African Resources recently broke first ground at its Elikhulu tailings retreatment project in Evander, Mpumalanga, officially marking the start of construction of the plant which is expected to produce an average of 50 000 ounces of gold per year for the next 13 years. The project is expected to produce its first gold in the final quarter of the 2018 calendar year.

and to the mining industry generally were also stressed by two of the speakers at the ceremony, Advocate Thabo Mokoena, Director General of the Department of Mineral Resources, and Eric Kholwane, MEC: Finance, Economic Development & Tourism, Mpumalanga. Both commended Pan African for proceeding with the project, with Advocate Mokoena making the point that it was a very welcome initiative given the wave of retrenchments sweeping the mining industry. The start of construction at Elikhulu follows the recent granting of an Integrated Water Use Licence for the project by the Department of Water and Sanitation for a period of 20 years, the last regulatory approval required. The total water requirement of the project is 15,2 M ℓ /day, which will be derived from underground and other on-site sources. The project entails establishing facilities and infrastructure at Evander Gold Mining

S peaking at the soil-turning cer- emony, Pan African Resources CEO Cobus Loots said: “Elikhulu’s capi- tal expenditure of approximately R1,7 billion (approximately US$130 million) is a substantial investment in the South African mining industry and is expected to contribute materially to economic develop- ment and employment in the Mpumalanga province.” The benefits of Elikhulu to Mpumalanga

Pictured at the Elikhulu ground breaking are (from left): Advocate Thabo Mokoena, Director General: DMR; Eric Kholwane, MEC: Finance, Economic Develop- ment & Tourism, Mpuma- langa; and Cobus Loots, Pan African’s CEO.

30  MODERN MINING  September 2017