The planetGOLD Zambia Project Advances Preparations for University of Zambia (UNZA) Pilot Plant Installation.

The planetGOLD Zambia Project has advanced preparations for the installation of an Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) pilot plant at the University of Zambia (UNZA), aimed at supporting research and development, establishing a gravity-based processing facility, and building technical capacity for environmentally responsible gold extraction in Zambia’s ASGM sector.

On 26 October 2026, Project Metallurgist Mr. Munsanje Chikatala updated the University of Zambia’s School of Mines, Department of Metallurgy, on the progress made towards the installation, confirming that the equipment had been procured and was expected to arrive in Zambia by 11 November 2026.
Mr. Chikatala outlined the equipment procured for the pilot plant, which comprises an impact crusher, Gold Katcha, gold grader and smelting furnace. The equipment will support gravity-based gold processing and provide a practical platform for research, skills development and testing of gold processing technologies.

The pilot plant is expected to serve as a pioneering facility for research and development in the ASGM sector, provide hands-on training opportunities for students, and offer test work services to Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners across Zambia.
The planetGOLD Zambia Project National Project Manager Ms. Abigail Mwailenge, reaffirmed the project’s commitment to building technical capacity among students and preparing them to understand gold mineral processing as Zambia’s gold mining sector continues to develop.

Ms. Mwailenge highlighted the importance of partnerships with knowledge institutions and the private sector in developing and implementing mercury-reduction and mercury-free technologies. She noted that the collaboration with UNZA would provide students with opportunities to gain practical knowledge and technical skills relevant to the adoption of environmentally responsible gold processing methods.
The Head of the Department of Metallurgy at UNZA’s School of Mines, Dr. Edward Siame, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, noting that the pilot plant would add value to the University’s training programmes by giving students opportunities to gain practical, hands-on experience in gold mineral processing.

Dr. Siame subsequently showed the delegation the designated site within the School of Mines where the pilot plant will be installed, marking another step towards establishing the facility.
Through this partnership, the planetGOLD Zambia Project and the University of Zambia aim to strengthen research, practical training and technical capacity while promoting the uptake of mercury-free technologies in Zambia’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining sector.