BIOX plant has been RioZim’s top priority
MINING giant, RioZim Limited, last year announced that it would prioritie the completion of its Biological Oxidation (BIOX) plant at the firm’s Cam and Motor Mine in Kadoma following delays to the project two years prior due to funding constraints and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The BIOX technology is expected to help the group value-add its precious minerals through processing pure oxide ores to make good grades and high recoveries and this is expected to increase current production levels by at least 50%.
Discussions with potential lenders led to funding being secured and eventually leading to the successful completion of the BIOX plant.
“The completion of the BIOX plant remains a key priority for the company as we pursue value creation for all stakeholders. The success of this project will be pivotal for the sustenance of the Cam & Motor mine,” said the company in its trading update for the full year ended December 2020.
And true to that desire, the plant is now up and ready to value-add the group’s pure oxide ores.
Despite external funding for the project having been elusive over the years as lenders took a conservative approach in light of the uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, RioZim’s hope, faith and patience won the day.
This left the company primarily dependent on internally-generated funding. However, despite the funding and COVID-19 challenges, the company managed to steamroll the project to bring civil works to completion and managed to take delivery of the bulk of the equipment by end of last year.