Modern Mining January 2017

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56 MODERN MININGJanuary 2017
Top projects
ZINC
Located about 30 km to the east of
the underground operations of VZI
subsidiary, Black Mountain Mining
(BMM), in Aggeneys, the Gamsberg
deposit is widely regarded as being
one of the largest unexploited zinc resources
in the world. It does, however, come with its
challenges, specifically a low grade and a high
manganese content. The orebody was discov-
ered 40 years ago but remained largely unde-
veloped by its previous owners, Gold Fields
and Anglo American, although the latter did
complete a feasibility study and also initiated
a small scale underground mining operation.
Vedanta Zinc International (VZI)’s Gamsberg project in the Northern
Cape is now entering the main construction phase with the recent
appointment of the EPCM contractor for the processing plant and
related infrastructure and the bulk mining contractor. The project
involves a capital expenditure of US$400 million, considerably lower
than the original estimate of US$600 million, with the savings being
achieved by some clever re-engineering of the project, as well as a
decision to go the contractor mining route. Modern Mining’s Arthur
Tassell recently spoke to VZI’s Chief Executive Officer, Deshnee Naidoo,
and its VP Projects, Satish Kumar, to learn more about the history of the
project and its planned implementation.
Vedanta cuts the cost
of Gamsberg by a third
The project was acquired by VZI, part of LSE-
listed Vedanta Resources, in 2010 when it pur-
chased BMM from Anglo American.
Commenting on the deposit, Naidoo – a
chemical engineer who was CFO for Anglo
American Thermal Coal before joining VZI
in 2014 – says the total resource amounts to
214 Mt with the grade being in the region of 6
to 6,5 %. “This is low for a zinc orebody,” she
says. “To put it into perspective, our Lisheen
mine in Ireland, which we closed at the end
of 2015, was mining with grades in the double
digits right through to the end. Nevertheless,
Gamsberg is ideal for modern bulk open-pit
Vedanta Zinc International’s
CEO, Deshnee Naidoo, en-
gaging with the Gamsberg
project team.