Pensana says the company brings an Afri-centric engineering capacity to the team and will help coordinate the bankable feasibility study (BFS) for the project.

Paradigm will also be responsible for the front-end engineering design of Longonjo’s power, water and waste services, offices, workshops, camp infrastructure and off-mine facilities, such as rail and port facilities.

Meanwhile, SRK Consulting is working towards a revised mineral resource estimate, which will be published in September.

Mining consultancy Snowden is preparing an openpit mine optimisation, design and cost studies for the BFS, which is due in mid-October.

Paradigm will also work alongside Wood Group, which is managing the metallurgical pilot plant test work that is under way at ALS Metallurgy, in Perth.

Construction is expected to start in the first quarter of next year.