# DRDGOLD hoping new technology will improve gold recovery

Canonical Atlas analysis: https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/drdgold-hoping-new-technology-will-improve-gold-recovery--af72481d-85f1-4087-8dba-9b2c15e39f24

Original source: https://www.miningweekly.com/article/drdgold-hoping-new-technology-will-improve-gold-recovery-2026-08-27

Publisher: miningweekly

Original announcement: 2026-08-27T08:31:18.050Z

Analysis by Minestarters Atlas

Atlas analysis published: Unknown date

Atlas analysis updated: Unknown date

- Company: DRDGOLD

- Ticker: Unavailable

- Exchange: Unavailable

- Region: Johannesburg

- Primary commodity: Gold

- Secondary commodities: None reported

- Document categories: Metallurgy

- Extracted: 2026-08-27 08:33:18 UTC

Narrative sentiment: 0.40 · Bullish

## Minestarters Atlas summary

DRDGOLD is proceeding with the construction of an Aztec up-flow reactor \(UFR\) at its Far West Gold Recoveries DP 2 plant following successful pilot plant testwork. The technology aims to improve gold recovery rates and reduce cyanide consumption, though the company is withholding guidance updates until real-world performance is demonstrated.

Reasoning: The company is moving from successful pilot plant testwork to building an Aztec up-flow reactor to improve gold recovery, though real-world performance remains unproven.

- Positive factor: pilot plant testwork showed promise

- Positive factor: potential for improved gold recovery

- Positive factor: potential for reduced cyanide consumption

- Negative factor: technology not yet tested in real-world conditions

- Negative factor: no impact on guidance/forecasts until real-world numbers are seen

Facts used in scoring: 1

## Classification and evidence

**Pilot Scale Complete**

Polarity: positive

Definition: Pilot or demonstration plant testing completed under continuous operation.

Why it applies: The CEO confirmed the company has completed proper pilot plant testwork which showed good promise.

Evidence · text

> we're very happy with the pilot work, which was not laboratory-scale testwork but proper pilot plant testwork

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Processing via mill or concentrator \(CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation\).

Why it applies: The process involves a carbon-in-leach \(CIL\) plant and an up-flow reactor.

Evidence · text

> Once the gold-bearing material has gone through the carbon-in-leach plant, it goes into the up-flow reactor.

## Extracted facts

Stored fact records: 1. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.

## Metallurgical Results (1)

### pilot plant

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/drdgold-hoping-new-technology-will-improve-gold-recovery--af72481d-85f1-4087-8dba-9b2c15e39f24#fact-metallurgical-facts-0)

gold

#### Identity

- Commodity: gold

#### Test Work

- Program Status: preliminary
- Test Type: pilot plant
- Processing Route: carbon-in-leach plant followed by up-flow reactor
- Sample: pilot plant testwork using up-flow reactor \(UFR\)

#### Reagents

- Reagent Notes: aims to cut cyanide consumption by optimising interaction between gold particles, leaching reagents, and activated carbon

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Successful pilot work justifies the move to build a reactor, but real-world efficacy is still an unknown variable.

- Positive factor: pilot plant testwork showed good promise

- Negative factor: technology has not been tested in real-world conditions

Evidence · text

> we're very happy with the pilot work, which was not laboratory-scale testwork but proper pilot plant testwork

## How Atlas produces this analysis

Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.