Measured mineral resources increased from 161,9Mt@0,29g/t to 261,5Mt@0.28g/t and mineral reserves from 170,9Mt@ 0,33g/t to 312,6Mt @0,30g/t.
This results in a 66,6% increase in gold in reserves from 1,8Moz to 3Moz and a five-year extension to the operating life of Ergo.
The revised mineral resources and mineral reserves statement flows from a drilling programme and pre-feasibility study begun in September 2016, aimed at re-evaluating DRDGOLD's’s surface gold tailings.
Tailings dumps and dams on the East Rand, to the east of the company’s Ergo plant – specifically 7L15, Rooikraal and Grootvlei (6L16/6L17 and 6L17A) – were a particular focus, the intention being to add these to the mineral reserve base.
Capital expenditure of R507,7m will be needed to access these dumps and dams. Included is the cost of 162,4km of pipelines and new pump stations. All required permits are in place.
No major upgrades are required to the current Ergo processing plant, and the existing Brakpan/Withok tailings deposition facility has sufficient capacity to dispose of processing waste.
