Kavango Resources has announced the successful commissioning of its 50 tonne per day gold processing plant at the Hillside Gold Project in Zimbabwe. The plant, which includes crushing, milling, gravity concentration and carbon-in-leach circuits, is a proof-of-concept facility designed to optimise processing performance and support the development of a larger commercial-scale plant.
The Ministry of Mines & Mining Development permitted the commissioning of the plant and Tailings Storage Facility on 30 October 2026, following a review of documentation and site visits. The plant is processing a combination of run-of-mine ore, gold-bearing sands and freshly milled sands, with gold production increasing steadily.
The Hillside Gold Project has a JORC Mineral Resource of 33,900 ounces of gold at 2.68 grammes per tonne, with expected plant recoveries of 90-93%. Kavango is now focusing on improving operational efficiencies and generating technical and operating data to support the design and development of a commercial-scale processing facility.
Chief Executive Officer Jasper Musadaidzwa said the commissioning of the plant was a significant milestone for Hillside, and a key step towards commercial-scale operations.
“The concept-phase plant enables us to optimise processing performance, confirm metallurgical recoveries and further refine our understanding of the orebody ahead of larger-scale development,” he said.
Kavango is also upgrading site infrastructure, including the installation of a headframe at Bill’s Luck Main Vertical Shaft, and improving power and water supply. The company is establishing the foundations to unlock the full value of the Hillside Gold Project, with exploration programmes and employee accommodation upgrades also underway.
