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MODERN MINING
May 2016
MINING News
Joy Global (Africa) (Pty) Ltd, A BEE Level 3 Contributor Wadeville, Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: +27 11 872 4000 or info@joyglobal.com JoyGlobal.com Joy Global, Joy, P&H and “Solving minings toughest challenges” are trademarks of Joy Global Inc. or one of its af liates. © 2016 Joy Global Inc. or one of its af liates. Mining is here to stay. But that doesn’t mean it has to stand still. Joy Global’s proven solutions and worldwide partnerships are helping customers achieve record-setting production levels and solving mining’s toughest challenges .First Quantum Minerals (FQM), listed on
the TSX and LSE, achieved its highest ever
quarterly copper production and sales
from continuing operations of 119 287
tonnes and 131 267 tonnes, respectively,
in the quarter ended 31 March 2016.
Copper production was 15 % higher
than in Q1 2015 largely as a result of the
continuing ramp-up of the new Sentinel
mine in Zambia. FQM’s other assets in
Zambia include the Kansanshi mine, the
largest copper mine in Africa, and the new
Kansanshi smelter.
First filtered concentrate was produced
at Sentinel in January 2015. Production
at the mine totalled 20 902 tonnes for
Q1 2016 compared to 15 190 tonnes for
Q4 2015 and 1 003 tonnes for Q1 2015.
“It was a strong start to the year for every
aspect of the company. The momentum
generated in 2015 with the excellent per-
formance of the Kansanshi copper smelter
and successful cost savings and expendi-
ture programmes, continued into 2016. For
four successive quarters, our mines have
delivered progressively higher copper
output and lower unit cost of production,”
noted Philip Pascall, Chairman and CEO.
Both Train 1 and Train 2 milling circuits
at Sentinel are now in continuous opera-
tion with periods of above nameplate
throughput being achieved separately,
and in combined operation.
Construction of the power lines project
was completed in September 2015, and
is partially energised from Lusaka West to
Mumbwa substations. ZESCO, Zambia’s
state-run power company, has advised
that full energisation of the power lines
has been delayed to the second quarter
of 2016.
Although Sentinel has been able to
reach design capacity at times with the
current 120 MW allocation, the full power
requirement is progressively increasing
with harder ore from the mine. Sentinel
is expected to reach commercial produc-
tion levels in the second quarter of 2016. A
declaration of commercial production will
be made when the operation attains a sus-
tained level of operating performance.
Sentinel boosts First Quantum’s first quarter production
The Sentinel processing plant. Both Train 1 and Train 2 milling circuits are now in continuous operation (photo: First Quantum).