Caledonia Mining
W
ithout beating around interest in the Blanket mine in Zimbabwe, the bush, the gold which produced over 45,000 ounces of gold in industry as it stands 2012, and a 100 percent interest in the Nama in mid-2013 is under base metals exploration project in Zambia. The Blanket gold mine re-started pressure and not just when it comes to the recent falls in gold price. production in April 2009, following a This pressure also stems from issues including temporary six month shut-down during the resource nationalism, labour concerns, testing times before Zimbabwe changed political and legislative uncertainty, and its currency to the US dollar, and has been increased environmental requirements. With expanded since to significantly increase these factors having an increasing influence production capacity to 48,000 ounces on the financial performance of gold mining of gold per annum last year. Last year operations in core markets like Africa it is Blanket was the first mining company to all the more important to comply with the Zimbabwe Indigenisation Legislation. recognise the achievements of those businesses that are Meanwhile the recently not only weathering the reconstituted Blanket board have also approved a four storm, but prospering in difficult conditions. year growth strategy for Ounces of gold per “While the drop in the the mine. Estimated to annum achieved by gold price we have seen in cost a total of $37 million Blanket in 2012 recent times now appears the investment programme will be funded from to be recovering slightly, we have remained profitable at these Blanket’s internally generated cash considerably lowers levels, this at a time is expected to result in progressive when much of the industry has been sub- increases in gold production to approximately economic,” states Stefan Hayden, Chief 76,000 ounces in 2016. Executive of Caledonia Mining Corporation. As it stands at the time of writing the “We have done so by controlling our costs Blanket mine extends over three kilometres. and the efficient use of labour we have Current work on the asset includes the sinking trained and been able to retain. This has of the new No. 6 Winze shaft. This shaft will allowed to maintain our position as one travel down to the mine’s current production of the lowest, if not the lowest cost listed level of 750 metres and continue down to producer on the African continent and one approximately 1,080 metres below surface. of the lowest cost producers in the world.” While the No. 6 Winze will allow for more As an exploration, development and rapid access to the mine’s ore bodies below mining company focused on Southern Africa, 750 metres, it is only an interim measure, Caledonia’s primary assets are a 49 percent one that will remain in place while the
48,000