The Witwatersrand Basin Project (WBP) has successfully produced its first ore and is enroute to becoming a large gold mine in South Africa, ultimately targeting production of up to 95,000oz per annum2. The Early mining initiative will build-up to a production rate of 5,000 to 8,000 per month, while the project development continues.
West Wits Mining’s Witwatersrand Basin Project (WBP) is a major South African gold deposit with JORC MRE of 4.28m ounces @ 4.58g/t Au1, situated in the West Witwatersrand Basin.
“This is an historic moment for West Wits as we deliver our first ore from our Witwatersrand Basin Project. I must compliment the team, whom were able to establish the site, rehabilitate the box cut and the declines and access the ore in a safe manner, all in a space of four months. This has created the benchmark and an example of how the remainder of the larger project will be executed,” said Jac van Heerden, West Wits Managing Director.
“I also wish to thank our shareholders for their continuing support. We look forward to keeping the market up to date with activities on the ground as we step into our new phase as a gold producer,” he added.
The delivery of the first ore signals a major milestone for WWI as the Company progresses development of the newest gold mine to come online in South Africa, at a time when gold is trading at historic high prices.
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Early Mining Initiative at Qala Shallows – Phase 1 of WBP
The Early Mining Initiative has been determined by WWI as an opportunity to establish a small-scale mining operation, with the objective to proof the designed mining method to mine areas already exposed at WBP. The ore tonnes from the Early Mining Initiative will supplement the tonnes from the larger mining operation, as described in the recent announcement following the completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS). The DFS reported a 17-year LOM project for the Stage 1 Qala Shallows alone and 7.3MT at 2.81g/t recovered grade for 663,000oz Recovered Gold for WBP’s initial stage 3.
Surface Works commenced in September 2021, following the granting of the Mining Right. The underground mining contractor established site in October and commenced rehabilitation work on the box cut (mine entrance), the existing decline and a previously constructed ventilation shaft.
The surface and rehabilitation works has created the platform for the Early Mining Initiative, as well as advancing the execution of the larger mining project. The early works are expected to produce 5,000t to 8,000t of ore while stage 1 of the larger project, Qala Shallows, will be building up to 53,000oz3 per annum whilst production from the overall WBP once in full production is targeting 95,000oz2 per annum.
