Summary:Lake Victoria Gold has officially kicked off the phase three land valuation and compensation programme at its flagship Imwelo Gold Project, marking a critical milestone to push the Tanzanian gold asset from planning into formal construction. Starting on 1 August 2026, the land assessment work will b...
Lake Victoria Gold has officially kicked off the phase three land valuation and compensation programme at its flagship Imwelo Gold Project, marking a critical milestone to push the Tanzanian gold asset from planning into formal construction. Starting on 1 August 2026, the land assessment work will be implemented by the company’s fully-owned local subsidiary Tembo Gold (T) Limited within Imwelo A Hamlet, Chato District.As a fully permitted gold mining asset located in the prolific Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt, smooth land acquisition is a fundamental prerequisite for advancing the Imwelo Gold Project. This third-phase valuation activity directly supports the layout of essential mine infrastructure, clearing obstacles for subsequent site civil engineering work.
The phase three land valuation scope covers roughly 73 acres of land. The newly secured territory will be allocated to build worker accommodation camps, mechanical workshops, material storage yards and auxiliary supporting facilities to sustain long-term mine operation. Around 60 project affected persons (PAPs) will participate in formal land compensation negotiations, supervised by certified government valuers in line with Tanzania’s local land management regulations.
| Phase | Completion / Start Date | Land Area | Core Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 2019 | 268 acres | Primary mining zone land occupation |
| Phase 2 | 2023 | 185 acres | Processing plant & access road layout |
| Phase 3 | 01 August 2026 | 73 acres | Staff camp, workshop & auxiliary infrastructure |
| Total | — | 526 acres | Full-site land preparation for mine construction |
The three-stage land valuation plan demonstrates Lake Victoria Gold’s phased, low-risk development strategy for Imwelo. Unlike rushed large-scale land expropriation, segmented valuation helps balance project development requirements and community interests, supporting the company to obtain stable social license to operate in northwest Tanzania. For investors and mining service suppliers, continuous progress on land work is a clear signal that the Imwelo Gold Project is steadily moving closer to construction commencement.
The Imwelo Gold Project sits only 12 km east of Geita Gold Mine, one of East Africa’s largest producing gold mines. Previous drilling campaigns have confirmed viable gold mineralisation, with metallurgical testing achieving 96%–97% gold recovery using gravity concentration and CIL processing flowsheet. The favourable geological conditions and mature regional mining supply chain make Imwelo one of the most promising emerging gold projects in Tanzania.
Industry practitioners widely recognise that land access is commonly the biggest timeline risk for new mining projects across East Africa. Many African gold assets face repeated delays caused by unresolved land disputes and incomplete valuation procedures. By finishing phase three land valuation systematically, Lake Victoria Gold effectively mitigates one of the most common development risks for the Imwelo Gold Project.The land valuation programme will run parallel with ongoing site earthworks announced recently. Contractors are carrying out access road upgrading, site clearing and foundation preparation work. Once land compensation procedures are finalised, the developer can immediately launch permanent infrastructure construction without unnecessary suspension.
Conclusion
The launch of phase three land valuation at Imwelo represents tangible forward momentum for Lake Victoria Gold’s core Tanzanian asset. After wrapping up this valuation and compensation round, the Imwelo Gold Project will complete full land consolidation for its initial development layout.Market participants, mine infrastructure contractors, equipment vendors and mining investors can track follow-up updates on land settlement results, construction tender schedules and project financing progress. Continuous advancement of on-site activities positions Imwelo to become a new active gold producer in the Lake Victoria goldfield in the coming years.
