The Mine comprises both open pit and underground mining operations.
The Project consists of multiple mineral deposits including; an underground mine at KaragbaChauffeur-Durba (KCD); active open pits at KCD, Sessenge, Aerodrome and Gorumbwa; a partially depleted open pit with planned push backs at Pakaka; depleted open pits with further potential at Kombokolo and Mengu Hill; planned new open pits at Pamao, Megi-Marakeke-Sayi, Kalimva, Ikamva, and Oere, plus deposits under evaluation at Mengu Village and Sessenge SW.
Open-pit
As of December 31, 2022, the operational pits were Pamao, Gorumbwa, Sessenge and Aerodrome. The Mengu Hill, Mofu, Kombokolo and Rhino pits were depleted in 2017.
Open pit mining is conducted by the contractor Kibali Mining Services, a local DRC company, using either free-dig or conventional drill, blast, load, and haul methods. The mining equipment is ultimately jointly owned by Barrick and the contractor’s parent company, the Bouygues Group.
From 2023 onwards, open pit production will come from the Sessenge, Aerodrome, Pamao, Gorumbwa, Megi-Marakeke-Sayi, Kalimva-Ikamva, Oere, Pakaka, and KCD deposits. As all of the pits are characterized by the presence of a near-surface groundwater table with the potential for high groundwater inflows into the pits, a system of pumping and dewatering trenches is established prior to the commencement of mining in each of the pits, preventing the inflow of any surface wate ........