Modern Mining October 2015

MINING News

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.  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. 

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 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

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

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.

October 2015  MODERN MINING  5