Installations for structural components of the US$25m Biological Oxidation (BIOX) Plant Project at RioZim’s Cam and Motor mine in Kadoma were now at an advanced stage, the company chairperson Saleem Beebeejan has revealed.
The BIOX plant will enable the processing of pure oxides ores thereby adding value to the exports.
Beebeejan says, “The Company managed to secure funding for the completion of the BIOX project, and all the activities necessary to commission the project are being accelerated.”
“The flotation section, which was completed in prior years, is being test run in preparation for the commissioning of the plant.”
The BIOX plant was expected to be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2020, but its completion faced delays.
Lack of funding had earlier stalled progress in finishing off the plant project.
“Despite the delays experienced in the installations due to the COVID-19 related lockdowns and restrictions, the Company is confident of completing and commissioning the BIOX Plant Project before the 2021 financial year-end,” Beebeejan says.
RioZim had also faced challenges in accessing foreign currency for the company’s operations with the RBZ enforcing a 55 percent foreign currency retention.
Use of the BIOX technology is expected to increase RioZim’s production by at least 50 percent.
The BIOX technology is applied mainly for processing gold, but it has also been used for copper and nickel.
