Weir Delivers Advanced Grinding Solution to Zijin’s Akyem Gold Mine, Signaling Industry Shift Towards Efficient Comminution

September 8, 2026 – In a significant development for the global gold mining sector, Weir, a prominent UK-based mining technology company, has announced a substantial order to supply two of its advanced ENDURON high pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs) to Zijin Mining’s Golden Ridge operation at the Akyem Gold Mine in Ghana. This strategic installation, recorded in the third quarter of 2026, marks a crucial step in Zijin’s brownfield optimization efforts at the open-pit gold mine, addressing critical operational challenges and underscoring the mining industry's escalating demand for more efficient and sustainable processing technologies.

The Akyem Gold Mine, strategically located within the highly prospective West African gold belt, represents a key asset for Zijin Mining. Acquired by Zijin Gold International in April 2025, following a successful offer to Newmont in October 2024 for a 100% interest (resulting in an 85% stake for Zijin), the mine boasts a substantial throughput capacity of 8.6 million tonnes of ore per year and a projected mine life extending beyond 2040. However, like many mature operations, Akyem has encountered processing difficulties. Its existing conventional semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) and ball mill setup has reportedly faced operational challenges, particularly due to the increasing proportion of competent ore encountered as mining progresses deeper into the deposit.

Weir's ENDURON HPGRs: A Strategic Solution for Akyem

The core of this new development lies in Weir’s ENDURON HPGR technology, a comminution solution designed to overcome the very challenges Akyem is currently experiencing. The two HPGR units will be integrated into the mine’s processing circuit specifically to process pebbles, a common byproduct in SAG milling that can often create bottlenecks and limit overall throughput. By effectively crushing these harder ore fractions, the HPGRs are expected to:

  • Enhance Grinding Efficiency: By pre-crushing competent material, the HPGRs reduce the workload on downstream mills, leading to more efficient energy utilization in the overall grinding process.
  • Increase Throughput: Debottlenecking the comminution circuit allows for a greater volume of ore to be processed within the same timeframe, directly boosting the mine’s productive capacity.
  • Improve Recovery Rates: More effective liberation of minerals through finer grinding can lead to higher gold recovery from the ore, directly impacting the mine’s profitability.

Weir emphasizes several key operational advantages of its ENDURON HPGRs. These units are lauded for their low energy requirements, a critical factor in a world increasingly focused on reducing operational costs and carbon footprints. They also promise lower maintenance demands and high throughput capability, coupled with high operational availability, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity. A standout technical feature is their use of dynamic skewing for size reduction, which not only optimizes grinding performance but also contributes to a longer wear life for components. This mechanism has the potential to generate a higher proportion of fines, thereby significantly reducing the energy consumption required for subsequent downstream milling stages, such as ball milling.

Bjorn Dierx, Weir's director of HPGR and process engineering, articulated the broader implications of this technology. "The benefits ENDURON HPGRs deliver in terms of reduced energy consumption, lower carbon emissions and improved grinding efficiency compared to traditional tumbling mills are well understood," Dierx stated. "But this project highlights that they also have a vital role to play in circuit debottlenecking and pebble crushing applications. As surface deposits deplete and miners encounter a higher proportion of competent ores, they are increasingly installing HPGRs to overcome their processing challenge." This statement underscores the strategic importance of HPGRs not just for efficiency, but as a necessary adaptation to evolving geological realities in mining.

Zijin Mining's Strategic Acquisition and Operational Context

Zijin Mining's decision to invest in advanced comminution technology at Akyem reflects a proactive strategy typical of major global miners seeking to optimize asset performance post-acquisition. The acquisition of an 85% interest in Akyem via Zijin Gold International, finalized in April 2025 following an initial offer to Newmont in October 2024, positioned Zijin to leverage the mine’s significant remaining reserves and extended mine life beyond 2040. However, realizing this potential requires continuous investment in operational improvements, particularly as ore characteristics change. The challenge of processing more competent ore with an aging or less suitable conventional circuit can lead to higher operating costs, reduced throughput, and lower recovery rates, directly impacting a mine’s economic viability.

The Akyem mine's throughput capacity of 8.6 million tonnes of ore per year signifies a substantial operation. Ensuring this capacity is met efficiently, especially when dealing with harder ores, is paramount. By addressing the bottlenecks in the comminution circuit, Zijin aims to unlock greater value from its investment in Akyem, reinforcing its position as a significant gold producer in the rich West African gold belt.

The Broader Industry Shift Towards Advanced Comminution

This collaboration between Weir and Zijin at Akyem is emblematic of a broader, accelerating trend across the global mining industry. Miners are increasingly facing geological and economic pressures that necessitate a re-evaluation of traditional processing methods. Declining grades, deeper deposits, and a higher proportion of competent or harder ores are common challenges. These factors not only increase the energy intensity of grinding but also contribute significantly to the operational expenditure and environmental footprint of mining operations.

HPGR technology, pioneered in industries like cement and iron ore, has found increasing application in hard rock mining, particularly for commodities like gold, copper, and platinum group metals. Its appeal stems from its ability to achieve significant size reduction with substantially lower specific energy consumption compared to conventional tumbling mills (SAG and ball mills). This directly translates to reduced electricity costs, a major operating expense for mines, and a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with growing industry and regulatory pressures for environmental sustainability.

Weir's continuous innovation in this space is further evidenced by its recent introduction of the WARMAN MCR² mill circuit pump, designed to handle more complex ore types and greater throughput demands. This complementary development highlights a comprehensive approach by technology providers like Weir to equip the mining industry with solutions capable of addressing the multifaceted challenges of modern mineral processing.

Economic and Environmental Implications for Akyem and Beyond

For Zijin Mining, the integration of Weir's ENDURON HPGRs at Akyem promises tangible economic benefits. By enhancing grinding efficiency and increasing throughput, the mine is expected to produce more gold for every tonne of ore processed, at a lower per-unit cost. The reduced energy consumption and lower maintenance requirements will directly contribute to improved operational margins. Furthermore, higher recovery rates mean less valuable metal lost in tailings, maximizing the economic return from the mine's extensive reserves.

Beyond economics, the environmental implications are significant. Reduced energy consumption inherent to HPGR technology directly translates to a lower carbon footprint for the Akyem operation. As the global mining industry strives for decarbonization and more responsible resource extraction, technologies that offer measurable environmental improvements are becoming indispensable. This investment positions Zijin not only for greater profitability but also demonstrates a commitment to sustainable mining practices.

The successful implementation at Akyem could serve as a blueprint for other brownfield operations globally, particularly those grappling with similar challenges of competent ore and the need for operational optimization. It demonstrates that significant efficiency gains and environmental improvements can be achieved through targeted technological upgrades within existing infrastructure, rather than solely through greenfield developments.

Future Outlook and Market Impact

The order placed in Q3 2026 sets the stage for the installation and commissioning phase of the ENDURON HPGRs at Akyem. Once operational, the performance metrics – specifically improved throughput, recovery, and energy efficiency – will be closely monitored. Success at Akyem could further solidify Weir’s position as a leading provider of advanced comminution solutions and encourage wider adoption of HPGR technology across the gold mining sector, especially in regions facing similar geological challenges.

For Zijin Mining, this strategic investment reinforces its operational excellence and commitment to leveraging technology for sustained growth. It also signals to investors and stakeholders that the company is actively managing operational risks associated with changing ore bodies and striving for maximum value extraction from its assets. As the mining industry continues to navigate complex geological, economic, and environmental landscapes, the collaboration between technology innovators like Weir and forward-thinking miners like Zijin Mining will be critical in shaping the future of mineral processing.