Guruve, Mashonaland Central – In a transformative move for Guruve District, Dallaglio’s Eureka Gold Mine, in partnership with the District Development Fund, has commissioned six solar-powered boreholes to provide clean and reliable water access to the local community. Strategically located across various farms and Guruve Primary School, these boreholes are set to benefit over 600 households and 2,100 schoolchildren, addressing a critical need in this region.
The project aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) on Health and Sanitation and contributes toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6—ensuring clean water and sanitation for all. Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland Central, Captain (Rtd) Christopher Magomo, commended the initiative, emphasizing its role in alleviating water challenges in Guruve. He remarked, “This is a prime example of corporate responsibility in action, fostering sustainable development for the benefit of our communities.”
Addressing Guruve’s Water Crisis
According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, Guruve District is home to approximately 200,833 residents, many of whom have faced water scarcity for years. Eureka’s latest borehole installations bring the total number of boreholes drilled by Eureka Gold Mine to 24, significantly easing the district’s water burden. The introduction of solar-powered systems not only ensures sustainability but also aligns with modern environmental practices.
A Mine with a Rich Legacy
Eureka Gold Mine, located near Guruve approximately 150 kilometers north of Harare, has a storied history. Discovered in the 1990s, it was most notably operated by Delta Gold Zimbabwe (DGZ), an Australian mining company, between 1995 and 2003. In April 2018, Dallaglio acquired the mine, heralding a new chapter for the once-dormant site.
The mine boasts an in-pit reserve of 373,603 ounces of gold, sufficient for five years of open-pit operations, with an estimated monthly throughput of 100,000 tons of ore. Looking ahead, a scoping study will explore transitioning to underground mining, leveraging an inferred underground reserve of 560,380 ounces, which could extend the mine’s life by an additional nine years, totaling 14 years of production.
Revitalization and Economic Impact
When Dallaglio took over, Eureka was a brownfields project—a partially developed site with a pit already stripped to 35 meters and significant existing infrastructure requiring refurbishment. The comprehensive repair and refurbishment program began on 17 January 2020 and was completed in July 2021, culminating in the establishment of a state-of-the-art CIL (Carbon-in-Leach) plant. This facility processes 100,000 tons of ore per month, producing between 140 and 200 kilograms of gold monthly.
The mine’s revival has injected economic vitality into Guruve, creating over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs. The mine’s investment in infrastructure, including the recent borehole initiative, demonstrates its commitment to uplifting local communities.
Sustaining Communities, Driving Progress
For Guruve, the contributions of Eureka Gold Mine transcend economic gains, touching on vital aspects of daily life such as education, health, and water access. The solar-powered boreholes are emblematic of a broader mission—building resilience and fostering long-term development.
As Dallaglio continues to refine Eureka’s operations, the mine’s initiatives underline the potential for mining operations to coexist harmoniously with community welfare, serving as a blueprint for sustainable resource utilization in Zimbabwe and beyond.
