Acacia hands over airport to govt as mine closure nears
What you need to know:
- The gold miner will close its Buzwagi Mine in the coming three years.
- Shinyanga Regional Commissioner Zainabu Telack said yesterday here that actual mining operations would officially cease at the year-end, but other plant processes would end in 2020.
Kahama. Acacia Mining yesterday handed over the management of its Buzwagi Airport to the government.
The gold miner will close its Buzwagi Mine in the coming three years.
Shinyanga Regional Commissioner Zainabu Telack said yesterday here that actual mining operations would officially cease at the year-end, but other plant processes would end in 2020.
“Today, we are receiving the airport because the investor is in the process of closing the mine. With time, they will give us other fixed assets including buildings in accordance with the laid-down procedures.”
Barrick Gold — which owns the majority of shares in Acacia Mining — purchased the Buzwagi Mine in 2000.
Feasibility studies were completed in 2006.
Meanwhile, Precision Air launched its Dar es Salaam- Kahama flights yesterday.
It will be using the Buzwagi Airport.
Precision is deploying its 48-seater ATR42-500 aircraft on the route. It will be flying three times in a week.
According to Ms Telack, investors’ transport between Dar es Salaam and Shinyanga will be eased.
Precision corporate affairs manager Hillary Mremi believes the Dar-Kahama route will attract more airlines.
