The arrival of two new rigs and the installation of laboratory equipment at Lion One’s Tuvatu gold project, heralds aggressive measures to start delivering through production by next year.

The deep capacity rigs, which arrive in the next three months, add to the growing fleet at Lion One’s Tuvatu Alkaline Gold project, in Sabeto.

The current fleet comprises six drill rigs.

Lion One will also increase its mine laboratory capacity.

The lab is expected to exceed the number of samples it carries out, to 12,000 a month, or 315 per cent increase.

This, as the company’s chief executive officer, Walter Berukoff, arrives in Nadi today.

Mr Berukoff, known in the mining industry for his Midas touch, is based in Canada.

Canadian-made Rigs Are The Best
Lion One’s Senior Vice-President exploration, Sergio Cattalani, said two Canadian- made rigs were among its best operating equipment.

The two rigs are readily convertible from electric to diesel power packs, and deliver an average combined drilling production rate of approximately 2500m/ month.

Three rigs will be in full use for the remainder of the 2022 exploration season, exclusively on its phase two infill drilling programme, Lion One said.

Lab Expansion
Lion One said the onsite analytical laboratory would be expanded to meet its combined exploration drilling  and underground development needs.

The lab expansion will consist of new furnaces, and include:
–  an LPG-fuelled fusion furnace,

–  a new 50-pot pouring system, and

–  a new sample drying oven.

Modifications to the lab itself include the:
–  installation of underground gas lines, and
–  various electrical upgrades, galvanised ducting, range hood and final installation and testing of all new equipment.

Incremental Expansion
Prior to the projected expansion, the lab was operating on two eighthour shifts, over five-day weeks.

Incremental expansion beginning with the sample preparation sector of the laboratory has been ongoing, Lion One said.

Additional staff members are brought in as required to the workforce, the company said.

The progress marks Lion One’s move to operate 24-hour/days, Lion One said.

The mine’s ultimate aim is to operate sectors of the laboratory on a three-shift, 24/7, Lion One said.

Installation and commissioning of all new equipment and a full expansion of the laboratory to fulltime24/7 operation is expected to be completed by late March, 2022

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