Namib Plans to Restart Redwing Gold Mine Production in Zimbabwe in November

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 3, mining company Namib Minerals adjusted the restart schedule for the Redwing gold mine in Zimbabwe, planning to move the first gold pour forward to November 2026. The mine has completed underground dewatering, refurbishment of the south shaft hoist, and restoration of the crushing system, while the ore processing and gold recovery systems are undergoing pre-restart commissioning. The company plans to process approximately 3,600 tonnes of ore per month and produce approximately 338 ounces of gold in the initial phase, with further expansion of processing capacity in the second quarter of 2027.

The Redwing gold mine was reconnected to the grid in June 2026, completed underground mine dewatering in September, and refurbished and recommissioned the south shaft hoist. The hoist is responsible for transporting underground personnel, ore, and materials. The mine's crushing facility completed refurbishment and trial operation in October, after which ore crushing operations resumed.

The mine management team plans to complete commissioning of the grinding, desorption, and carbon-in-pulp gold recovery systems in the first half of November 2026, followed by the first gold pour. Initial production will utilize existing underground stopes and processing facilities, without the completion of the definitive feasibility study for the expansion project as a prerequisite.

After initial production resumes, Namib plans to increase the Redwing mine's monthly ore processing capacity to approximately 10,000 tonnes and monthly gold output to approximately 835 ounces, targeting these levels by the second quarter of 2027. The company has ordered a shaft hoist with greater lifting capacity, expected to be delivered by the end of the first quarter of 2027, with subsequent installation and commissioning to align with the increase in mining and haulage capacity.

Zimbabwe's Ministry of Mines and Mining Development recently adjusted the country's access policies for small and medium-sized gold mining operations, imposing production scale requirements on foreign operators, with the relevant thresholds to be met by January 1, 2027. Namib has accordingly adjusted the Redwing restart pathway, implementing the rehabilitation of existing underground stopes and processing facilities separately while advancing the mine redesign and definitive feasibility study.

Namib had previously set the first gold production target for Redwing at no later than January 2027 on October 1, 2026, and has now moved it further forward to November 2026. The company maintains its existing production guidance for fiscal year 2026 and plans to release production and cost forecasts for the next fiscal year, including the Redwing mine, in the first quarter of 2027.