gold
35
08.13
lieve we’re well positioned to cope with the down-
turn, we felt it would be prudent to buy some insur-
ance in the shape of the RCF.”
Upside at Kibali
Drilling and remodelling of the KCD orebody have in-
creased Kibali’s total resources to 21,5 Moz, and con-
tinued drilling of the 9000 lode has identified further
opportunities for resource growth.
Group GM Exploration Paul Harbidge explains that
while Randgold succeeded in doubling the Kibali re-
serve to 11 million ounces after the Moto acquisition,
it cut back Moto’s resource inventory from 21 Moz to
a JORC-compliant mineral resource of 18 Moz.
“Now that we have a comprehensive understand-
ing of the geological controls on the KCD mineralisa-
tion, we’re back above the 21 million ounce level,
and when you take into account the carving out of
1,13 Moz of the Kibali South resource for SOKIMO,
the increase is in fact substantially more,” he says.
Harbidge attributes the improved grasp of the ore-
body to the Randgold method of integrating geology,
grade control, mining and metallurgy. “Our advanced
understanding enhances our ability to add resources
and reserves at the margins of the known orebodies,
as well as to make greenfields discoveries further
afield in this region,” he says.
According to Group GM Evaluation Rod Quick, it
is significant that the bulk of the additional resource
ounces (calculated at US$1 500/oz) are above the
underground reserve cut-off grade and much of it
should be capable of being upgraded to reserves at
US$1 000/oz.
Gold pour imminent
At Kibali, preparations are now being finalised for the
first gold pour, scheduled for October this year.
The plant at the Tongon mine in Côte d’Ivoire. The mine pro-
duced 58 056 ounces of gold in Q2, in line with the previous quar-
ter despite a decrease in mill availability and consequently mill
throughput due to downtime associated with plant upgrade tie-ins.
More than a million tonnes of ore from the open-pit
mine have been stockpiled to feed the metallurgical
plant’s oxide circuit, due to start commissioning in
the third quarter. All 36 power generator sets have
arrived on site and work on the diesel backup power
station is on schedule, with the first 12 of the 15 sets
needed for the plant start-up already commissioned.
The construction of the first of four hydropower
stations is on track for completion early next year.
Work on the underground mine is also progressing
well, with the development of the declines ahead of
schedule and the vertical shaft due to reach a depth
of 183 m by year end.
With the focus on early revenue, commissioning
will be phased, starting with sand and slime tailings
from an old treatment plant as well as sub-soil gold
from an old mill before moving on to oxides and then
sulphides.
In the meantime, the relocation programme, one of
the most complex and sensitive parts of the complex’s
development, is nearing completion, with more than
3 400 families already resettled in the new model vil-
lage of Kokiza. Randgold is currently in the process
of handing over the village to a local administration.
Bristow said at a time when the gold mining in-
dustry was in crisis, with projects being cancelled or
overrunning in time and money, Randgold was on the
