Buckreef Gold Commences Commissioning of Expanded Processing Plant
October 20 2021 - 6:30AM
Tanzanian Gold Corporation (TSX:TNX) (NYSE American:TRX) (TanGold
or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on Buckreef Gold
Company Limited’s (Buckreef Gold) processing plant and the
commencement of the commissioning phase of the new expanded
processing plant by 360 tonnes per day (tpd). The Company and
Buckreef Gold continue to advance the previously disclosed 1,000+
tpd operation.
During October, Buckreef Gold completed
construction of the 360 tpd processing plant expansion. Buckreef
Gold also continued to operate the 120 tpd processing plant
subsequent to concluding the test period, which achieved a 90% gold
recovery rate, as previously disclosed in September 2021. The
existing 120 tpd processing plant has been integrated into the new
processing plant circuit.
The new expanded processing plant construction
was completed in line with the scheduled completion date of late
September/October 2021 and within project capital expenditures
guidance of US$1.3-1.6 million. This includes completion of all
major construction activities associated with the processing plant
expansion, including the ongoing execution of dry, cold and hot
commissioning performance tests.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e2ff150c-ea1d-4f3e-a4f4-8a358a939a11
Highlights of Processing Plant
Expansion:
- Low-Cost
Expansion: $1.6 million in project capital expenditures to
increase throughput by 360 tpd;
- Increased Gold
Production: Expanded throughput expected to increase
production to 750-800 ounces of gold per month1 upon final
commissioning and prior to construction of the 1,000+ tpd
processing plant;
- Attractive Cost
Profile: Total Cash Costs2 expected to average
US$725-825/oz;
- Improved Cash
Flow: Operating cash flow from the expanded processing
plant is anticipated to mitigate the negative cash flow from the
testing period of the 120 tpd processing plant;
- Project
Reinvestment: Anticipated cash flow generated from the
larger plant will be reinvested in Buckreef Gold with a focus on:
(i) exploration and drilling; (ii) enhanced CSR/ESG programs; and
(iii) additional capital programs focused on growth and
efficiencies;
- Short Expansion
Timeframe: A five-month timeline from ordering the major
components of the 360 tpd operation to the start of project
commissioning in October 2021; and
- In-House
Construction: The 360 tpd processing plant expansion was
completed by the Buckreef Gold and TanGold teams in conjunction
with key consultants/contractors, including: (i) Ausenco; (ii) Solo
Resources; and (iii) CSI Energy Group. In-house execution resulted
in an accelerated construction timeline which has enabled advanced
production over initially envisioned timelines and the ability to
maintain continuity of the workforce.
Stephen Mullowney, TanGold Chief Executive
Officer commented: “The dedication and hard work of the Buckreef
Gold and TanGold teams in the construction of the 360 tpd
processing plant expansion is a very exciting milestone. The
increased processing capacity is expected to allow us to advance
the mine plan and increase near-term production in a cost-effective
and efficient manner. The increased anticipated cash flow from the
new larger plant will enable us to speed up the advancement of
Buckreef Gold, including exploration at the Buckreef Main Zone,
Buckreef West and Anfield Zone.”
Buckreef Gold will continue with plans to
advance a 1,000+ tpd operation while simultaneously operating the
360 tpd operation. The 1,000+ tpd operation is expected to be
capable of producing 15,000 - 20,000 ounces of gold per year based
on the initial mine plan and grade profile.
__________________________________________
1 The 360 tpd Plant estimates have not been
prepared in accordance with the results of the Company’s 2018
Prefeasibility Study, reflected in the Company’s May 15, 2020
Updated Mineral Resource Estimate. The 18-Month mining plan which
was utilized for the estimates are based upon an internal mine
model reviewed by SGS Canada and cost inputs as validated by actual
mining and processing costs from the 120 tpd test plant over the 9
months ended May 31, 2021. See ‘Forward Looking Statements’ at the
end of this Press Release.2 ‘Total Cash Cost’ includes mine site
operating costs such as mining, processing and local administrative
costs, royalties, production taxes, mine standby costs and current
inventory write downs, if any. Production costs are exclusive of
depreciation and depletion, reclamation, capital and exploration
costs. Total cash costs are net of by-product sales and are divided
by gold ounces sold to arrive at a per ounce figure. Total Cash
Costs is a non-IFRS financial performance measure often used in
conjunction with conventional IFRS measures to evaluate
performance. Total Cash Cost does not have a standardized meaning
under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures
of performance disclosed by other issuers; it is intended to
provide additional information and should not be considered in
isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared
in accordance with IFRS.
About Tanzanian Gold Corporation
Tanzanian Gold Corporation along with its joint
venture partner, STAMICO is building a significant gold project at
Buckreef in Tanzania that is based on an expanded Mineral Resource
base and the treatment of its mineable Mineral Reserves in two
standalone plants. Measured Mineral Resource now stands at 19.98MT
at 1.99g/t gold containing 1,281,161 ounces of gold and Indicated
Mineral Resource now stands at 15.89MT at 1.48g/t gold containing
755,119 ounces of gold for a combined tonnage of 35.88MT at 1.77g/t
gold containing 2,036,280 ounces of gold. The Buckreef Project also
contains an Inferred Mineral Resource of 17.8MT at 1.11g/t gold for
contained gold of 635,540 ounces of gold. The Company is actively
investigating and assessing multiple exploration targets on its
property. Please refer to the Company’s Updated Mineral Resources
Estimate for Buckreef Gold Project, dated May 15, 2020, for more
information.
Tanzanian Gold Corporation is advancing on three
value-creation tracks:
- Strengthening its balance sheet by
expanding near-term production to 15,000 - 20,000 oz. of gold per
year from the processing of oxide material from an expanded oxide
plant.
- Advancing Sulphide Development for
a stand-alone plant that is substantially larger than previously
modelled and targeting significant annual gold production.
- Continuing with a drilling program
to further test the potential of its property, Exploration Targets
and Mineral Resource base by: (i) infill drilling to upgrade
Mineral Resources currently in the Inferred category in Buckreef
Main; (ii) step-out drilling in the northeast extension of Buckreef
Main; (iii) infill drilling program of Buckreef West; (iv) develop
exploration program for the newly discovered Anfield Zone; (v)
upgrade historical resources at Bingwa and Tembo; (vi)
identification of new prospects at Buckreef Gold Project and in the
region.
For further information, please contact Michael Martin, Investor
Relations, m.martin@tangoldcorp.com, 860-248-0999, or visit the
Company website at www.tangoldcorp.com
Andrew M. Cheatle, P.Geo., the Company’s COO and
Director, is the Qualified Person as defined by the NI 43-101 who
has reviewed and assumes responsibility for the technical content
of this press release.
The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American
have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.
This press release contains certain
forward-looking statements as defined in the applicable securities
laws. No assurance can be given that Tanzanian Gold will be able to
achieve the same level of gold recovery in the future as it did
during the testing phase for the 120 tpd plant during the months of
July and August 2021 or that the 1,000+ tpd process plant will be
completed and operated at the anticipated completion and operating
costs. The actual achievements of Tanzanian Gold or other future
events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in
the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks,
uncertainties and other factors. These risks are set forth under
Item 3.D in Tanzanian Gold’s Form 20-F for the year ended August
31, 2020, as amended, as filed with the SEC and other reports that
we subsequently file with the SEC. You can review and obtain copies
of these filings from the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
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