Kavango Resources plc has moved into the next phase of development at its Hillside Gold Project in Zimbabwe following the successful installation and commencement of commissioning of a 50-tonne-per-day processing plant.
The Southern Africa-focused exploration and gold development company, listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, announced on 3 August 2026 that live processing began on 1 July 2026. All feed material is being sourced from Kavango’s own Hillside operations and includes a combination of previously stockpiled gold-bearing sands and freshly milled sands from the company’s existing Hillside Milling Centre.
The plant is now processing material through its full circuit, which covers crushing, milling, gravity concentration and the carbon-in-leach process. Between 18 and 28 July 2026, the facility achieved an average capacity utilisation of 69%. Testing of loaded carbon has already confirmed that gold is being successfully adsorbed within the CIL circuit. As optimisation continues, the company will begin blending run-of-mine ore into the process feed.
Alongside the plant, Kavango has established a fully equipped on-site laboratory at Hillside. The laboratory incorporates bottle roll, fire assay and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer capabilities. It is designed to provide rapid analysis of process samples to monitor plant performance, support operational decision-making and maximise gold recovery. The facility will also support the company’s broader exploration, grade control and mining activities across the project area.
The 50tpd plant was conceived as a proof-of-concept to validate Kavango’s processing flowsheet, confirm expected metallurgical recoveries and demonstrate the company’s ability to design, construct and operate modern gold processing facilities. It represents the first phase of development at Hillside and the results will inform future decisions on expansion as the company advances the project toward commercial production.
The resource base supporting this development is Bill’s Luck Underground, which hosts a JORC-compliant mineral resource of 33,900 ounces of gold at a grade of 2.68 grams per tonne. Metallurgical test work announced on 20 May 2026 on blends of Nightshift and Bill’s Luck ore achieved gold recoveries of more than 95% under laboratory conditions. Kavango expects operating recoveries of between 90% and 93% under commercial plant conditions.
Commenting on the milestone, Donald McAlister, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, said the start of commissioning marks an important transition for Kavango. “Our immediate priority is to commission the plant safely and methodically, optimising plant performance and establishing stable processing operations,” he said. “The knowledge gained during this phase will support our plans to expand processing capacity and accelerate production growth across the Hillside Gold Project.” McAlister added that the company also looks forward to advancing its wider portfolio, including evaluating strategic opportunities at Nara.
Kavango said it will provide further market updates as it reaches significant operational milestones, including first gold production and the completion of commissioning at Hillside.
