Ran Mine has set ambitious production targets for 2025, aiming for a 36% increase in gold output to reach 250 kilograms following recent capacity expansions. After exceeding internal expectations with 184 kg of gold produced in 2024, the mine is optimistic about its continued growth, supported by significant enhancements to its processing capabilities.
By Ryan Chigoche
The mine’s recent expansion efforts include the installation of a larger ball mill at the end of December 2024, which has significantly increased its milling and leaching capacity to 23,000 tonnes per month. This upgrade is a key development in improving production efficiency. With these improvements in place, Ran Mine is well-positioned to ramp up its output in 2025 and meet its ambitious production targets.
Looking ahead, Ran Mine plans to conduct a comprehensive scoping study by the end of 2025 to evaluate additional expansion opportunities. This study will assess potential investments in technology and further enhancements to the mine’s production capacity, with the goal of surpassing the 250 kg target.
However, this target is currently under threat due to a recent challenge faced by the mine. Operations were temporarily halted following a breach in the tailings storage facility (TSF), which caused tailings to spill into a nearby waterway.
Originally, Ran Mine had planned to build a larger TSF to the east of the processing plant, but delays in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process forced the company to seek an alternative solution. As a result, a temporary TSF was established to the west of the plant, closer to town, after receiving approval from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
This disruption could delay the mine’s ability to meet its ambitious gold production target of 250 kg for 2025, as resources are temporarily diverted to address the issue. Once the TSF challenge is resolved, the mine expects to resume production and continue its growth trajectory.
Ran Mine, located on the eastern edge of Bindura town in Mashonaland Central, has a rich and storied history dating back to 1899.
Mining operations began in earnest in 1910 and continued intermittently until the mine’s closure in 2000 due to low gold prices and technical difficulties. The mine’s reopening in October 2021, with the commissioning of a new crushing plant and trial processing plant, marked a significant turning point in its development.
Since then, the mine has seen continuous growth, including a second phase of expansion in November 2022, which introduced a trial open-pit mine. In 2024, the mine took another important step by decommissioning its trial ball mill in favor of a larger, more efficient model, further strengthening its processing infrastructure.
