{"id":139106,"title":"Kavango Begins Live Gold Processing at Hillside Project","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2026-08-03T07:54:45+00:00","modified":"2026-08-03T07:54:45+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/kavango-begins-live-gold-processing-at-hillside-project/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/kavango-begins-live-gold-processing-at-hillside-project.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/kavango-begins-live-gold-processing-at-hillside-project.json","category":"Mining","categories":["Mining"],"tags":["3D geological","airborne","anomalies","Belt","Botswana","COPPER","diamond","Donald McAlister","Drill","electromagnetic","elements","Exploration","geochemistry","Geophysical","Kalahari","KAV","Kavango Resources","Lorenz Werndle","Magnetotelluric","Nickel","rare earth","Rwanda","soil","surveys","Thamsanqa Mpofu"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/93325c79-1018-47e9-81d1-6d069205ff6c.png?fit=1704%2C923&quality=80&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"[Kavango Resources PLC (LON: KAV)](https://www.share-talk.com/kavango-enters-new-era-with-management-shake-up/) has started live processing at its **Hillside gold project** in Zimbabwe following the installation of a **50-tonne-per-day processing plant**, marking the transition from construction into operational commissioning.\n\nProcessing began on **1 July 2026** using stockpiled gold-bearing sands and freshly milled material from the Hillside Milling Centre.\n\nBetween **18 and 28 July**, the plant achieved average capacity utilisation of **69%**. Tests on loaded carbon also confirmed that gold was being successfully captured within the plant’s carbon-in-leach circuit.\n\n**Highlights**\n\n*·    50tpd Hillside gold processing plant successfully installed, marking the transition from construction into commissioning and live processing.*\n\n*·    Processing commenced on 1 July 2026, with all feed material sourced from Kavango’s own Hillside operations, including stockpiled and freshly milled gold-bearing sands.*\n\n*·    Average capacity utilisation of 69% achieved during the period 18-28 July 2026.*\n\n*·    Material now being processed through the crushing, milling, gravity concentration and carbon-in-leach (“CIL”) circuit.*\n\n*·    Fully equipped on-site laboratory established, providing bottle roll, fire assay and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) capabilities to support plant optimisation, mining and exploration activities.*\n\n*·    This proof-of-concept plant supports the advancement of Hillside towards commercial production, with Bill’s Luck Underground hosting a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource of 33,900 ounces of gold at 2.68g/t and metallurgical test work indicating expected operating recoveries of 90-93%.*\n\n*Kavango will now gradually introduce run-of-mine ore into the feed while optimising the crushing, milling, gravity concentration and carbon-in-leach processes.*\n\n*The company has also established an on-site laboratory equipped for bottle-roll testing, fire assays and atomic absorption spectrometry. The facility will support recovery optimisation, grade control and future exploration work.*\n\n*The proof-of-concept plant represents the first phase of Hillside’s development and will provide operating data to guide potential expansion of processing capacity.*\n\nThe **Bill’s Luck Underground** deposit contains a JORC-compliant resource of **33,900 ounces of gold grading 2.68 grams per tonne**, with commercial plant recoveries expected to range between **90% and 93%**.\n\nChairman **Donald McAlister** said the commissioning programme would help establish stable operations and support the company’s plans to expand production capacity.\n\nKavango expects to provide further updates when it achieves first gold production and completes the plant commissioning process."}