Namib Minerals has brought its expanded milling plant at How Mine to full capacity ahead of schedule, increasing monthly ore processing capacity by 36% as the Zimbabwe-focused gold producer seeks to lift output and improve operating efficiency at its flagship mine. Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
The plant is now processing approximately 55,000 tonnes of ore per month, up from 40,500 tonnes, removing a constraint that had limited the mine’s ability to increase throughput, the company said on Monday.
The milestone comes after How Mine produced 11,373 ounces of gold in the first half of 2026, down from 12,741 ounces in the comparable period last year. Namib has previously indicated that lower ore grades constrained its ability to compensate for the production decline by processing more tonnes, making the additional milling capacity central to its recovery plans.
The company had expected the expanded plant to reach its full operating rate by the end of December, following commissioning in mid-October and a six-to-eight-week ramp-up period. Instead, the operation reached the targeted rate substantially earlier than planned.
“Reaching full capacity this quickly is a credit to the How Mine team, who delivered the expansion safely and ahead of plan, reflecting the team’s continued operational excellence,” chief executive officer Tulani Sikwila said.
The expansion adds 14,500 tonnes of monthly processing capacity, giving How Mine greater scope to process ore and spread its existing cost base across higher volumes. Namib expects the improvement to support stronger production and cash generation as the mine enters 2027.
At current ore grades, the company has previously outlined an annualised production rate exceeding 30,000 ounces once the expanded plant is operating at full capacity. The target remains dependent on operating performance and the grade of ore processed, with higher milling capacity not automatically translating into a proportionate increase in gold output.
Namib’s first-half results showed the financial benefits of higher gold prices despite lower production. Revenue rose 40% to US$50.8 million in the six months to June 30, while gross profit doubled to US$27 million and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation increased 76% to US$19 million.
The average realised gold price after royalties climbed 48% to US$4,195 an ounce, offsetting the effect of lower sales volumes. The company also reported US$9.3 million in cash generated from operating activities, with funds reinvested in capital projects, including the How Mine expansion and work to restart Redwing Mine.
Namib revised its full-year 2026 production guidance in October to between 26,500 and 27,000 ounces from an earlier range of 28,000 to 31,500 ounces, reflecting the timing of the milling expansion and the ramp-up period.
With the expanded plant now at its targeted rate, attention shifts to sustaining throughput and converting the additional capacity into higher gold production.
The company also plans to restart Redwing Mine, where dewatering was completed ahead of schedule in September. First gold is targeted no later than January 2027, with the initial restart programme running alongside longer-term technical and development work.
Redwing’s anticipated contribution will be included in Namib’s formal 2027 production and cost guidance, which the company expects to release in the first quarter of next year.
Namib Minerals currently operates How Mine and is advancing plans to restart Redwing and Mazowe, two additional gold assets in Zimbabwe.
