Chitando commends Pickstone’s underground mine development
Mines and Mining Development Minister Hon Winston Chitando has commended the development of the underground mine at Dallaglio Investments-owned Pickstone Peerless as the project will be key towards the attainment of a US$4 billion gold industry by 2023.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe on the sidelines of a technical visit to Pickstone Peerless mine in Chegutu on Monday the Minister commended Dallaglio Investments for its Investment capacity to ensure the mine develops an underground mine to exploit higher grades.
“One of the things which make this visit interesting is its investment capacity. The mine is developing an underground mine operation to exploit higher grades, they are also doing some minor changes to their plant and are also planning to do heap leaching operations. That alone makes this project a comfort of sustainable production. Pickstone is a source of sustainable production that the government is looking at. The mine is key, contributing to employment with Investments in Chegutu. We are very pleased that they are contributing to his Excellency’s 2030 vision which is more employment, higher income and nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,” Minister Chitando said.
According to Pickstone Peerless mine, General Manager Alfred Madowe Dallaglio has invested US$18 million on the development of Pickstone Peerless underground mining which will see the mine mining a higher grade from the current open pit’s 1.8 grams per tonne to an average of 4 grams per tonne. The increase in grades will double production capacity from an average of 500 kgs per annum to 1000 kgs per annum by 2025.
Pickstone Peerless mine on average produces 50 kgs of gold per month and will grow to an average of 80 kgs per month after underground commissioning in 2023.
Underground mining at Pickstone according to Madowe will be commissioned in April 2023 and the mine will increase production to 800 kgs per annum thereby contributing significantly towards the achievement of the US$12 billion mining industry.
“Extensive shaft and surface restructure is being undertaken to reopen the existing underground mine at Pickstone Peerless mine.
“Indicative underground grades are ranging between 3 to 5 grams per tonne while the open pit grades are standing at an average of 1.8 grams per tonne. This will be a gradual improvement in grades.
“Pickstone underground project will contribute significantly to increase revenue and foreign currency inflow in the economy and contribute towards the attainment of the US$12 billion mining industry by 2023. This is in line with His Excellency Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s vision 2030 towards a prosperous upper middle-income nation by 2030,” Madowe said.
In 2015, Dallaglio refurbished Pickstone Peerless mine and brought it back to life. This gold mine had not been operational for 44 years. The process plant was designed and built in-house, a testament to the skills and experience we have in our people. After the success in bringing Pickstone Peerless back to life the company embarked on an even more challenging refurbishment of the Eureka Mine located near Guruve. Once operational Eureka will be one of the largest and most technologically advanced mines in Zimbabwe.