Few gold projects can claim to be building a new mine in the heart of Johannesburg while drawing on one of the most prolific gold basins in mining history.

For ASX-listed West Wits Mining, that is precisely the opportunity unfolding at the Qala Shallows project, the first stage of the company’s broader Witwatersrand Basin project (WBP).

Following its maiden gold pour in March this year, completion of a fully funded project finance package and continued underground development, the company has entered a new phase – transitioning from explorer and developer to gold producer.

Speaking to Mining Weekly, West Wits Mining CEO and MD Rudi Deysel says the company has made significant progress over the past year and is now firmly focused on increasing production.

A major milestone has been the completion of the funding package for Qala Shallows through definitive agreements with financial institutions Absa Bank and Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking. Together with the company’s previous equity raising, the package provides a fully funded pathway to production.

According to Deysel, the financing significantly derisks the project and allows the company to continue mine development while completing the remaining surface infrastructure.

The company has also completed the 1 West Decline, providing access to previously unmined, in-situ ore within the historic underground workings.

“It opens up higher-grade mining areas that will positively influence production and revenue,” Deysel explains.

While many new gold developments are located in remote regions requiring substantial investment in supporting infrastructure, Deysel believes Qala Shallows enjoys a unique competitive advantage through its location.

“Most new gold projects are remote and require significant investment in roads, power, water and workforce accommodation,” he says. “Qala Shallows sits just 15 minutes from the Johannesburg CBD.”

The project benefits from immediate access to existing infrastructure, skilled labour, engineering expertise, mining services and processing capacity, while also being situated within one of the world’s most established gold mining regions.

“We’re effectively mining within one of the world’s greatest gold districts, yet we enjoy the advantages of operating in a major metropolitan area,” says Deysel.

“When equipment requires maintenance, the manufacturers are nearby. When we need specialised mining expertise, Johannesburg has one of the deepest mining talent pools in the world. These advantages reduce risk, lower costs and improve operational efficiency.”

The project forms part of the broader WBP, with West Wits having recently announced a resource upgrade that increased the total mineral resource to more than 7.2-million ounces.

“The scale of the opportunity is substantial,” Deysel says, noting that the increase confirms the company’s long-held belief that significant value remains within Johannesburg’s historic mining areas.

For Qala Shallows specifically, the definitive feasibility study (DFS) outlines total production of about 944 000 oz over a 17-year mine life, including steady-state production of 70 000 oz/y for about 12 years.