PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum has approved the project plans for the Gruyere gold project joint venture (JV) between ASX-listed Gold Road Resources and Gold Fields.
Gold Road on Wednesday said the receipt of the approval ensured that the Gruyere project remains on track for completion in the quarter ending December 2018.
The department's approval is the final approval required to allow for the start of construction of the Gruyere processing plant and associated infrastructure, as well as development work on the openpit mine.
“Approval of the project management plan, mining proposal and mine closure plan is another important milestone in the development pathway for the Gruyere project, and importantly was completed to the project schedule,” said Gold Road MD and CEO Ian Murray.
“The JV project team remains focused on the start of construction of the process plant and infrastructure in the quarter ending March 2017, with contracts expected to be awarded soon to allow progress to continue to plan,” he added.
The plant will have capacity to handle 7.5-million tonnes a year of fresh ore, and up to 8.8-million tonnes a year of oxide ore, over a mine life of 13 years.
The next major project development milestone will be the award of major contracts, including the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the processing plant and associated infrastructure, bulk earthworks and power supply, which is expected in March.