Akobo Minerals, a gold exploration and mining company based in Scandinavia with operations in Ethiopia, announced that the Segele processing plant is now operational. This milestone represents a significant advancement for the company’s operations in Ethiopia.
The commissioning process has successfully activated the majority of the Segele plant, allowing Akobo Minerals to process a substantial amount of ore efficiently and safely. Last week, the first phase of commissioning was completed, which included milling, grinding, the concentrator and a furnace in the gold room. The final phase, the activation of the InLine Leach Reactor (ILR), has now been completed. The company anticipates an extraction efficiency of 76% from the concentrator and ILR system.
“This is a great achievement for our team and a testament to the quality and build of the processing plant,” said Jørgen Evjen, CEO of Akobo Minerals. “We have received solid feedback and are proud of the strong work from our team. We look forward to processing our first ore and moving forward with the project.”
In line with a phased approach to optimize both operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness, Evjen said the commissioning of the carbon in leach (CIL) system will be deferred until production volumes are increased. “This strategy ensures that the plant operates in a cost-effective manner while allowing the team time to familiarize themselves with the initial phase of the plant,” he said. “Tailings will be stored and reprocessed once the CIL tanks are operational.”
The plant is designed with the capability to produce 4,000 oz per month of gold, with an expected recovery rate of 96%. Additionally, its modular design allows for future upgrades as the Segele mine and adjacent targets are developed, ensuring the plant remains adaptable to evolving operational needs.
Currently, the company is blasting and mining ore from the Western winze and expects to process low-grade ore through the plant in the coming weeks.
