Crucitas Construction Designs Could be Ready in April
Final design work for construction of the Crucitas gold project in Costa Rica, operated by Canadian company Vannessa Ventures , could be ready in April.

"Right now we are working on the final engineering designs for different components of the project," Jesús Carvajar, director of Vannessa's subsidiary in Costa Rica, Industrias Infinito, told BNamericas.

Once the designs are ready, the company will present them to the country's engineering and architecture college (Colegio de Ingenieros y Arquitectos in Spanish), the health ministry and finally to the municipality of San Carlos.

Carvajal estimates that the revision and approval process at the school could take close to a month. After that, the ministry could take close to four months and San Carlos another two months.

During the approval process, the company will proceed with building the access road to Crucitas. Project leaders already are selecting contractors so the road will be ready before mine construction begins.

"In addition, we are solidifying a deal with the electricity co-op in San Carlos to transport electricity to the community of Crucitas, which would give even more electric service to the mine camp," he explained.

The company is determining how much the road and electric lines will cost and has agreed to invest - along with the co-op - in the latter.

But the executive did not disclose the total investments in these projects because the company has not finalized contracting agreements.

Infinito also is making progress on social commitments required within the framework of the environmental impact study (EIA). Because of these commitments, they signed an agreement with the national institute of learning (INE) to prepare residents in neighboring communities for the project.

The company promised that local residents would provide 75% of labor. "Given that residents are from the countryside and without experience in mining work, we have to train them," he added.

The community training also will aim to create micro-businesses that could become suppliers to the mining company.

Vannessa has reported that Crucitas' indicated resources total 25.1Mt grading 1.21g/t gold and 3.17g/t silver, or 985,000oz of contained gold and 2.56Moz of contained silver.

In addition, inferred resources amount to 12.6Mt grading 1.23g/t gold and 3.14g/t silver, for a total of 496,000oz of gold and 1.27Moz of silver.