The arrival of mechanised equipment last week at Happy Valley Mine (“HVM”) near Bulawayo in Zimbabwe will allow for the capital expansion of the mine as well as enhanced throughput capabilities as part of the planned expansion of the operation by Pambili Natural Resources Corporation (“Pambili” or the “Corporation”) (TSX-V: PNN).
Part of the delivery included a Massey Ferguson 440 series tractor following a 900-kilometre journey from Johannesburg, South Africa. Pambili also anticipates delivery of an eight-tonne tipping trailer from a local supplier in the next two weeks. The search is on for a suitable tractor-loader-backhoe unit, which is expected to be purchased by the end of the month.
The purchase, delivery and mobilisation of this equipment are part of Pambili’s commitment to capital expansion of HVM, as part of the earn-in agreement and an oversubscribed C$515,000 non-brokered private placement announced in December 2021 and subsequently approved by the TSX Venture Exchange in April 2022. As part of the earn-in agreement, C$200,000 has been allocated to capital expansion.
CEO Jon Harris commented: “This is a very important step in the mechanisation of operations at the Happy Valley Mine, ramping up production and creating efficiencies to reduce manual work. Not only will this equipment allow us to increase the amount of rock that can be delivered to the crushing and milling plant, but the ability to ferry rock from neighbouring mines to process at our plant provides a potential new revenue stream.”
As previously announced, HVM has the installed capacity to process 40 tonnes of rock per day but, due to capital constraints, is currently processing less than half that amount. Through these capital expansion efforts, Pambili can almost immediately begin earning a return on its investment in operations.