Tanzanian Gold Corp. is pleased to provide an update on the 5tph (tons per hour) test plant. As previously reported the plant reached commercial production of gold on June 17, 2020. Since then the plant has operated continuously 7 days a week with two 12-hour shifts per day and has produced a total of 427.9 oz of gold. Here are some of the key performance metrics in the period June 30, 2020 to October 30,2020:
The 5tph oxide test plant has been a substantial success on several levels. First, operation of the plant to date proves the viability of the Buckreef Gold Project (“Buckreef”) to produce gold and therefore provides a considerable de-risking of the mine building efforts at Buckreef. A number of important tests have been conducted providing data for the operation and confirming the flowsheet for expansion of the processing plant to the rate of 40tph (15,000 oz. to 20,000 oz. of gold production per year). The main tests to date are:
Additionally, the plant has been used to train and develop a crew that will be ready to operate the larger 40tph plant when it comes online. Start-up and operation of the test plant has provided months of experience in: (i) understanding the oxide deposit; (ii) areas of mining and earth moving; (iii) stockpile management; (iv) grade blending control; (v) equipment and materials procurement; (vi) local content regulations; (vii) security; and more. The Company has initiated construction of a large tailings facility to accommodate the targeted expansion of the oxide plant.
As work advances rapidly with the oxide operation, Tanzanian Gold continues to advance the sulphide mine Final Feasibility Study, which is targeted to produce 150,000 oz. to 175,000 oz. of gold production per year. The Company has begun the process of pit modeling, one of the foremost components of the Final Feasibility Study. SGS is proceeding with the metallurgical studies to refine the flowsheet for the sulphide plant.
Finally, Tanzanian Gold continues to focus on the value creating exploration opportunities at Buckreef, with a variety of planned drilling programs. The programs include: (i) drilling at ultra-deep levels; (ii) drilling new oxide targets; (iii) infill drilling to upgrade ounces currently in the Inferred category; and (iv) a step-out drilling program in the Northeast Extension.
Mr. James E. Sinclair, Executive Chairman of Tanzanian Gold, commented “The exceptional performance of the test plant has laid a firm technical foundation and has helped to de-risk our plans to a build a much larger plant”, Mr. Sinclair went on to comment “ We have every expectation that we will be producing in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 oz. of gold production per year with the new plant and after start up we could be in a position to consider an expansion of this plant.”
Mr. James E. Sinclair went on to note that “critically, we have now become a gold producer. The financing arrangements we have previously announced will help to ensure the rapid expansion of production such that we can expect to reach our goal of becoming cash flow positive.”
About Tanzanian Gold Corporation
Tanzanian Gold Corporation is building a significant gold project at the Buckreef site in Tanzania that is based on an expanded resource base and the treatment of its mineable reserves in two stand alone plants. An ongoing drill program has, to date, more than doubled the size of Measured and Indicated Resources to 2.036 million ounces. NI 43-101 compliant exploration mining targets have the potential to add up to another 2 million ounces. The Company commenced production from oxides in June 2020 at a new oxide plant and is now anticipating government approval for an expanded oxide plant to the level of 40tph.
Tanzanian Gold is advancing on three value-creation tracks:
1. | Strengthening its balance sheet from expanding near-term production of gold to the range of 15,000 oz. -20,000 oz. of gold production per year from processing oxides: |
2. | Advancing the Final Feasibility Study for a stand-alone sulphide treating plant that is substantially larger than previously modelled, targeting annual gold production of 150,000 to 175,000 oz.; and |
3. | Continuing with a drilling program to further test the potential of its resource base by: (i) drilling at ultra-deep levels; (ii) drilling new oxide targets; (iii) infill drilling to upgrade ounces currently in the Inferred category; and (iv) a step-out drilling program in the Northeast Extension. |
Respectfully Submitted,
James E. Sinclair
Executive Chairman
For further information, please contact Michael Martin, Investor Relations, via email at m.martin@tangoldcorp.com, direct line 860-248-0999, or visit the Company website at www.tangoldcorp.com