HARARE - Caledonia Mining Corporation on Monday announced the installation and commissioning on schedule of the first of several planned 2.5MVA diesel generators at the Blanket Gold Mine in Zimbabwe. (Pictured: Installation of new generator)
This follows erratic power supplies by Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) Holdings. Blanket currently relies exclusively on the ZESA 33kV electricity supply to run all its operations. The continuity of electricity supplies to the mine has deteriorated significantly over the past few months: the average daily power outages have increased from approximately five hours per day in February to over nine hours per day in May.
The increased frequency, coupled with the unpredictability, has had an adverse effect both on gold production and on the underground installations essential for the completion of the No. 4 Shaft Expansion Project, said a company statement. The company plans to install additional diesel generating capacity after completion of the No. 4 Shaft Project in order to provide sufficient standby generating capacity to maintain its increased production target of 40,000 ounces of gold per annum even if electricity outages continue to be experienced at the current level or deteriorate further.
Blankets plans in this regard will remain under constant review as circumstances relating to electricity supply change. The cost of the first standby generator has been met out of Blankets existing US$2.5 million debt facility, the Canadian-based company said.
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