In many gold mines in Africa, oxygen is essential for the extraction of the precious metal. The extraction of gold from rock by using cyanide relies on oxygen as a key element, and its use provides several important benefits.
Firstly, for example, a higher dissolved oxygen content increases the gold extraction rate, and increased ore throughput shortens the leaching time by up to 50%. In addition, less cyanide is consumed, which lowers costs and reduces environmental risks.
Logistics and supply problems are, however, widespread on the African continent, driving the need for flexible and in many ways sustainable solutions. Lack of infrastructure, as well as capacity and efficiency deficiencies, can affect supply chains and make them more expensive. Gold mines, which are often located in secluded areas, therefore seek to provide their entire infrastructure themselves. Even the oxygen required for efficient gold extraction by cyanide leaching is not delivered but generated onsite.
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