Kefi Gold and Copper has resumed development at its Tulu Kapi gold project in Ethiopia following a suspension that began on September 7 after a serious safety incident three days earlier.
The incident marked the first time in roughly 12 years of the company’s control of the project that personnel had suffered injury or fatality.
It was concluded on September 10, which Kefi largely attributes to collaboration with the local community.
Since then, senior management and the local team have held detailed consultations with community representatives, leaders at all levels of the Ethiopian and Oromia governments, relevant agencies, and other stakeholders.
Discussions focused on the local community, localisation of operational activities, and security arrangements.
Following what Kefi describes as positive discussions, the company is restarting the development programme in a phased and measured manner.
Construction is resuming for electricity connection infrastructure, and teams are remobilising for new access roads.
This will be followed by replacing housing and land for community members resettling from the mining licence area.
Initial construction on the mining licence area will then begin, covering planned security infrastructure, bulk earthworks for the processing factory and other infrastructure, and permanent accommodation for the workforce.
Kefi said it is prioritising the localisation of field works to strong local firms with successful records in the region.
The company said that its lenders have continued to support both the company and the project during ongoing discussions about updating development sequencing and associated fund drawdowns.
“We are enjoying huge support from all stakeholders and are now restarting development with a phased and measured approach in which we reinforce the emphasis on safety and community benefits,” said company executive chairperson Harry Anagnostaras-Adams.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor-In-Chief, Rough & Polished
