Modern Mining April 2017

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April 2017MODERN MINING7
MINING News
Kakula exploration teammember seen with one of the drilling rigs now in operation (photo: Ivanhoe).
project began drawing clean, hydroelec-
tric power from the DRC national grid for
development and construction activities.
In September 2016, ongoing upgrad-
ing work financed by Ivanhoe at the
Mwadingusha hydropower plant allowed
the facility to begin supplying an initial
11 MW of electricity to the national grid.
Bench-scale metallurgical flotation
test work at XPS Consulting and Testwork
Services laboratories in Falconbridge,
Canada, achieved copper recoveries of
87,8 % and produced a concentrate with
an extremely high grade of 56 % copper
using the flowsheet developed during the
Kamoa pre-feasibility study. The material
tested was a composite of chalcocite-rich
Kakula drill core, assaying 8,1 % copper. 
Tantalite mine in Namibia upgraded
Kennedy Ventures, the AIM-quoted
investment company which, through its
stake in African Tantalum (Pty) Limited
(Aftan), has an interest in the Tantalite
Valley Mine (TVM) in Namibia, reports
that the mine recently hosted a suc-
cessful visit by a customer, a leading
manufacturer of tantalum capacitors, as
well as Namibian government officials.
During the visit Aftan provided demon-
strations of tantalum recovery both at
the plant and the product room.
Onemetric tonne of product has been
sold by Aftan to the customer, who has
requested a further six tonnes for deliv-
ery during the quarter to June as part of
a quality sampling programme to make
certain the product suits its facilities and
requirements. Ultimately, subject to the
product meeting the required specifica-
tions, Aftan hopes to agree a permanent
offtake agreement with the customer.
Aftan’s plant has undergone a num-
ber of upgrades. A solar-powered pump
has been installed to pre-fill the main
transfer dam, reducing diesel usage
and ensuring the plant water storage
systems are always available via the
transfer dam feed. A thickener has been
mounted and is currently being com-
missioned and is expected to reduce
the silt to the main dam, as well as add-
ing water storage and distribution to the
circuit. Three more James tables have
also been added. The crusher jaws have
been refurbished and are being com-
missioned to allow proper sizing during
operations to bring more consistent
feed to the circuit.
Larry Johnson, CEO of Kennedy Ven­
tures, commented: “Aftan has made
considerable progress in the year to
date and is now in a position of strength
both at the operational level and with
onward sales. Aftan is confident that its
product will meet the customer’s qual-
ity and specification tests and its work
this calendar year means Aftan is now
firmly positioned within a world-class
supply chain.” 