Osino’s amended operational environmental and social management plan shows the project is now firmly geared toward production, with a targeted output of about 3 million tonnes of ore per year, equivalent to roughly 100,000 ounces of gold.
The mine is currently in the construction phase since the second quarter of 2025, with operations scheduled for 2026 and beyond.
The planned development will convert years of exploration on EPLs 5196, 6167, 5658, 6953, 3739 and 7301 into a full-scale gold mining operation.
Osino began prospecting along the deep-seated Karibib faultline before making the Twin Hills discovery in 2019, following 18 months of surface geochemical and geophysical work that generated targets for shallow percussion drilling.
Once drilling confirmed gold in bedrock beneath 2–25 metres of sand and calcrete cover, the company completed 31 drill holes totalling about 6,000 metres in 2019, followed by a further 20,000 metres in 2020, paving the way for a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate in early 2021.
This resource underpinned the 2021 drilling programme and a Preliminary Economic Assessment published in July 2025.
A typical gold mine of the scale proposed for Twin Hills will require about 1,000 workers during construction and about 880 during operations.
Of the operational workforce, approximately 95 people will work in the processing plant, 580 in technical, administrative, safety, health, environmental and management roles, 76 in maintenance, and about 450 in mining.
Osino, through its various locally held subsidiaries, holds 16 EPLs in central Namibia.
Central to its Namibian operations is Osino Gold Exploration and Mining (Pty) Ltd (OGEM), the Namibian subsidiary that was originally owned 97% by Osino Resources.
In August 2022, Osino Resources acquired the remaining minority equity from Somerschield, taking ownership of OGEM to 100%.
This structure later shifted again when Osino Resources itself was acquired by Shanjin International Gold Corporation in early 2024, making OGEM a wholly owned Namibian operating arm of Shanjin.
Anglo American and Bafex Exploration previously explored parts of the Twin Hills project area. Still, modern exploration only took shape after Osino took over in 2016, applying geochemical surveys, soil sampling, trenching, and multiple drilling techniques, supported by regional and detailed aeromagnetic data. The mineral resource estimate includes the main pits — Bulge, Twin Hills Central and Twin Hills North — and the satellite pits Clouds, Clouds West and Twin Hills West, all of which meet an economically viable cut-off grade of 0.4 g/t gold under the company’s 2023 definitive feasibility study.
The planned mine will be a multi-pit operation with seven pushbacks in the main pits and three in the satellite pits, mined in phases throughout the life of mine.
The mining method will be conventional drill-and-blast, with ore hauled to the processing plant for crushing, cyanide leaching, carbon-in-pulp processing, electrowinning and smelting to produce gold bars.
Environmental Compliance Consultancy is handling the amendment to the original ESIA, which was first submitted to the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in March 2022.
The Record of Decision was granted on 3 November 2022, but Osino has since revised its operational layout, requiring an updated assessment.
The amendment process now invites the public to register as Interested and Affected Parties and contribute to the environmental and social impact assessment ahead of final approvals.
The expanded operational plan signals Osino’s transition from explorer to mine builder, marking a pivotal moment for one of Namibia’s most anticipated gold projects.
With the updated OESMP now outlining more apparent timelines and production targets, Twin Hills is entering the final stretch before construction-related activities begin in 2025.
The renewed detail in the amendment reflects the maturity of the project’s design — from pit sequencing and plant layout to waste-rock management and workforce planning.
Much of this work stems from refinements made after Shanjin’s acquisition, which injected fresh capital and accelerated the development timeline.
Since the Record of Decision was granted in late 2022, Osino has overhauled its site layout, relocated some infrastructure, refined haul roads, and updated the positions of processing facilities.
These modifications triggered the need for an amended ESIA, allowing ECC to reassess potential impacts on biodiversity, water use, waste handling, and social engagement.
Shanjin’s involvement has also strengthened the project’s financial certainty, positioning Twin Hills to rush once construction approval is secured. In investor briefings, the company has repeatedly stated that Namibia’s stable regulatory environment and its track record in gold mining — with Otjikoto and Navachab operating safely and successfully — help underpin the project’s viability.
The Karibib community, meanwhile, has started preparing for the influx of workers, suppliers and service providers expected during construction.
Local small businesses have been engaging with Osino’s supply-chain teams, anticipating opportunities in transport, catering, fabrication, civil works and accommodation.
Once operational, Twin Hills is expected to become a significant regional employer and fiscal contributor.
The estimated 100,000 ounces of annual gold production would position it alongside Namibia’s flagship gold mines, reinforcing the country’s status as one of Africa’s stable, mid-tier gold producers.
Osino awaits the final environmental approvals that will unlock the next stage: ground clearing, contractor mobilisation, and construction of the processing plant.
If all goes according to the company’s amended timeline, Twin Hills will pour its first gold in 2026, turning years of exploration into Namibia’s newest gold operation.
