By: Creamer media

The project team, under the leadership of project director Kevin Botha, a South African project management professional, has initiated the key procurement and engineering contracts.

Engineering service providers Pro-Process and ADP (Lycopodium RSA) have been formally appointed and have started activities.

The preparatory site works completed earlier this year have enabled a streamlined construction programme, Pensana points out.

The main contractor Grupo Nov has been mobilised and is expanding its workforce to over 100 on-site personnel with additional earthmoving equipment en-route to complete the terracing in the production plant area.

“The commencement of main construction activities is a pivotal moment for the project which has been six years in the making,” says CEO Tim George.

He points out that early momentum has been established under the leadership of the on-site team, headed by country manager Geraldine Tchimbali and site service manager Benedito Dumbo.

Considerable progress is now expected over the coming weeks with the engineering and construction teams mobilised.

Pensana has spent over $70-million over the past six years on exploration, technical and environmental studies on the Longonjo project.