Characteristics
Buzwagi is a shear-hosted quartz-veined deposit, hosted in porphyritic granite.
Life and reserves
Life-of-mine is currently estimated to be around 12 years, based on its proven and probable gold reserves of 2,915,000 ounces.
Location
The Buzwagi mine is located in northwest Tanzania in the Kahama district of the Shinyanga region, approximately 97 km from Bulyanhulu and 6 km southeast from the town of Kahama.
Capacity
The mill is designed with a throughput capacity of 12,000 tonnes of ore per day.
Access
Buzwagi is well connected. The site lies immediately beside a paved highway and a 1,580-metre airstrip. It is also only 40 km from Isaka, a railway hub with links to the port of Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean.
Climate
The annual average temperature ranges from 16° – 29°C. Average annual rainfall in the region is 953mm.
The site
The Buzwagi mine comprises an open pit mine, ore-processing facilities, a waste-rock storage facility, a tailings storage facility, water management and other ancillary facilities.
People
As at 31 December 2011, a total of 2,099 people were employed at Buzwagi, consisting of 1,004 Group employees and 1,095 contracted personnel.