Modern Mining March 2015

GOLD

Ergo starts to see the benefits

The new R320 million flotation/fine-grind (FFG) circuit at DRDGOLD’s Brakpan plant on the East Rand has been fully reactivated after a temporary suspension of operations for several months last year. While the FFG technology is not yet performing fully to expectations, DRDGOLD’s CEO, Niël Pretorius, told media representatives – including Modern Mining’s Arthur Tassell – who recently visited the new facility that all the statistics and trends were nowmoving in the right direction. The Brakpan plant forms the centrepiece of DRDGOLD’s Ergo operation, one of the largest tailings retreatment operations in the world.

T he company’s recently announced results for the quarter and six months to 31 December 2014 sup- port Pretorius’s claim of improved performance, with gold production increasing by 6 % to 73 015 ounces for the first half of FY2015 compared to the first half of FY2014, with the improve- ment being attributed to a 9 % improvement in the av- erage yield to 0,196 g/t. Higher gold production and gold sold, together with a stronger average Rand gold price received, drove revenue 9 % higher to R1 015,5 million and, notwithstanding increased total cash op-

The flotation section of the FFG circuit at DRDGOLD’s Brakpan plant (photo: Arthur Tassell).

DRDGOLD’s Niël Pretorius.

20  MODERN MINING  March 2015