Gwanda Consulting works across the full lifecycle of mineral processing projects and operating plants.
Whatever the situation, the approach is the same: understand the problem clearly, assess it honestly, and deliver advice that is technically sound and practically useful.
When the flowsheet is the problem
Sometimes a flowsheet simply isn't good enough — whether it was developed under commercial pressure, optimistic assumptions, or without sufficient understanding of the orebody. Sometimes it needs a fresh set of experienced eyes before a critical decision is made. And sometimes a project needs to move from concept to engineering as efficiently and quickly as possible, without losing technical integrity along the way.
Gwanda Consulting works with owners and project teams to design, review, challenge and improve flowsheets at any stage of the project lifecycle — from early concept through to detailed design and beyond. This includes:
When a project needs a metallurgical flowsheet developed from scratch — one grounded in the orebody, the mineralogy and the commercial reality, not textbook ideals
When an existing flowsheet needs to be independently challenged, stress-tested or improved before a critical decision is made
When a project is ready to move into engineering and needs the foundational technical documentation — process descriptions, design criteria, PFDs and equipment lists — done properly and efficiently
When an operation or project needs a credible, practical pathway to reduced carbon emissions that is honest about capital, timing and cashflow
When you need an independent eye
Not every technical assessment needs to come from the organisation doing the work. In fact, the most valuable assessments often come from someone with no stake in the outcome — someone whose only obligation is to tell the truth about what they see.
Gwanda Consulting provides independent technical review and assurance for owners, investors and lenders who need a clear, unfiltered view of what a project or operation is actually worth — technically and commercially. This includes:
When an owner, investor or lender needs a clear, unfiltered assessment of what a processing asset or project is actually worth — technically and commercially
When an operation is underperforming and the real cause hasn't been found yet — or the proposed solutions haven't been working
When investors or regulators are demanding a credible account of your operation's carbon position — and you need someone who can not only quantify where you stand, but identify practical, cost-effective abatement pathways that are honest about timing, capital and cashflow impact
When you need someone technical in your corner
Major engineering firms are experienced, well-resourced and commercially sophisticated. That is not always an advantage for the owner. When technical decisions are being made that will shape the cost, risk and outcome of a project for years to come, having an experienced independent metallurgist working exclusively for the owner can make a material difference.
Gwanda Consulting acts for the owner — not the engineering firm — ensuring that technical decisions remain aligned with the owner's objectives, that the processing case is properly understood at board and investment level, and that the owner's voice carries weight throughout the process. This includes:
When an owner needs an experienced technical representative managing the relationship with an EPCM or engineering contractor — ensuring decisions stay aligned with the owner's objectives throughout
When a board or investment committee needs to understand what the processing case really means for project value and risk, in plain language and without spin
When early-stage capital and operating cost estimates are needed to support sound decision-making before significant engineering expenditure is committed
When the plant isn't performing
Operating plants underperform for many reasons — some technical, some operational, some neither. Finding the real cause quickly, and developing solutions that actually work in practice, requires both deep technical experience and an honest assessment of what is really going on.
Gwanda Consulting specialises in getting to the bottom of operational problems and helping management teams build a clear path back to optimal performance. This includes:
When a plant is not achieving design recovery or throughput and the cause — whether in grinding, classification, leaching, flotation, carbon handling or elsewhere — needs to be found and fixed
When a project or study has stalled, lost direction or needs independent technical oversight to get back on track
When a management team knows performance needs to improve but needs a clear, honest assessment of where the gaps are and a practical plan to close them