Eleven specially modified 50 t trucks have arrived in Dakar in Senegal en route to the new Gounkoto gold mine at Randgold Resources’ Loulo mining complex in Western Mali. The ship carrying the Volvo FMX 10×4 trucks, which were purpose-built for the mine by BAS Volvo Trucks in the Netherlands, docked in Dakar last week. Modifications to the trucks include the addition of a fifth axle and a customised tray with a Hardox 500 bottom wear plate system. Three further trucks have been ordered and are scheduled to arrive in Dakar in February next year, bringing Randgold’s total investment in the fleet to $4.2 million. (more…)