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October 2015
MODERN MINING
5
MINING News
Estimate. Prior to milling operations
commencing, it is planned to have over
400 000 tonnes of ore at reserve grade on
the stockpiles, which is in excess of one
month’s production requirements.
Pit dewatering has continued to
advance ahead of the mining operations
with 4,6 million m
3
of the expected 6 mil-
lion m
3
of water now pumped from the
Nkran pit (approximately 77 %). The pit is
expected to be empty in November. Pit
dewatering boreholes are currently being
drilled and will be operational as required
during Q4 2015.
Installation of the primary crusher has
been completed, with work focusing on
the structural, mechanical and platework.
The concrete work for the run-of-mine tip
wall and erection of the primary tip bin at
the primary crusher have also been com-
pleted. Installation of the apron feeder and
other mechanical equipment is underway.
The stockpile feed conveyor was due to
be finished by the end of September. The
stockpile tunnel is complete and the mill
feed conveyor is being assembled. It is
expected that the crusher and stockpile will
be ready for commissioning on low-grade
ore in Q4 2015.
In the milling section, the shells for both
the SAG and ball mills have been installed
and the associated steelwork is nearing
completion. The SAG mill discharge sump
is in place, as well as the vibrating screens.
The carbon-in-leach circuit is continu-
ing to progress with all seven tanks fully
erected and interconnecting steel and
platework also in place.
The Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) is
over 95 % complete and will be inspected
by an independent third party this month
(October). The final inspection report will
allow the company to meet its last per-
mit condition and the TSF will be ready to
accept tailings. It is expected that the TSF
will be utilised for storing water for use in
the start-up and commissioning.
In June 2015 Asanko signed a life
of mine, fixed-priced power purchase
agreement with the independent
power producer Genser Energy Ghana
for the supply of 17 MW to Phase 1.
Commissioning of the power plant is
targeted for April 2016. Until the main
power plant is operational, Genser will
provide temporary power to Phase 1 via
five 5 MW semi-mobile, liquid natural gas-
fired generator units. The five generators
are expected to arrive on site this month
(October) and will take approximately two
weeks to install and commission.
In addition to the dedicated power
plant, the company has also constructed a
161 kV power line which connects to the
main power grid. The line will be used to
deliver excess power from the dedicated
power plant into the grid, or to provide
a back-up source of power for the opera-
tions. All the power line towers over the
30 km line length have been erected
and stringing of the power line is 80 %
complete.
The main EPCM contractor, DRA Global,
continued its excellent safety record with a
recent achievement of 2,4 million lost time
injury free man hours.
Peer Review validates process route for Kabwe project
AIM-listed BMR Mining has reported the
principal conclusion of a Peer Review of its
Kabwe treatment project in Zambia.
BMR engaged the services of Tony
Francis of Francis Minerals Consulting
Limited to undertake a Peer Review of the
company’s proposed processing method-
ology for producing lead and zinc from the
Kabwe tailings. Francis visited BMR’s Kabwe
operation between 27 and 31 August 2015.
According to BMR, the Peer Review has
confirmed the suitability of BMR’s acid/
brine leach process for the recovery of
these metals. BMR is currently finalising
both its processing plans, which will be
submitted to ZEMA (Zambia Environmental
Management Agency) in the near future,
and its costings of the pilot plant.
BMR plans that the treatment rate for
the pilot plant will be a minimum of 5 t/h.
It intends that it will be operated on a 24/7
basis, initially processing the wash plant
tailings.
The principal objective of the pilot plant
will be to finalise the design parameters of
the proposed main plant, which is planned
to come into operation in 2016, to enable it
to process different combinations of tailings.
Nevertheless, BMR’s intention is to operate
the pilot plant as a semi-production unit
to simulate actual operating conditions,
thereby enabling the company to generate
revenues from sales of the end product.
BMR also reports that it has entered
into an agreement with Sable Zinc Kabwe,
a subsidiary of Glencore, in respect of land
adjacent to BMR’s tailings dumps and cer-
tain key items of equipment.
The agreement, which has an initial
term of 12 months, provides for the lease
by BMR, at a cost of US$1 000 per month, of
a concrete apron on which the pilot plant
will be sited. The plant will include a 300 m
3
partially rubber-lined reservoir suitable for
the storage of re-cycled water, three 90 m
3
rubber-lined leach tanks, a 60 m
3
rubber-
lined clarifier and rake mechanism, and a
filter press.