ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Hamash Gold Mine is a gold mine located 100 km west of the city of Marsa Matruh in the Eastern Desert, near the Wadi el-Gemal-Hamata Nature Reserve.

The company
"Hamsh Egypt for Gold Mines" was established as a joint operation between the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority and the American "Christ" company, which transferred its entire share to the Cypriot "Matz Holdings" company in 2007. Matz Holdings produced the first experimental gold alloy in April 2007.

Extraction method
Gold is extracted from the Hamash mine using the heap leaching method, which involves collecting and crushing rocks containing gold, then placing them in large piles and spraying a solution of chemical substances that extract gold from the rocks. The solution carrying gold is collected and separated mechanically and electrically. This process requires sufficient time to extract most of the gold present in the rocks.

Total production
The total amount of gold produced by smelting and alloying gold-bearing ores and resulting from electrochemical analysis since the start of commercial production until February 2010 was approximately 65 grams of gold. The company's plan for 2010 indicated that it would produce 15,000 ounces of gold during the year, but the company failed to meet its production target, receiving a government warning in 2012 and a final deadline until June 2013.

Sources
Mineral Resources Authority - Hamsh Gold allowed until June to present a specific program - Al-Fajr newspaper
Gold projects in Egypt - Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Wealth website