Modern Mining August 2015

MINING News

tively. The main north decline access is approximately 60 m away from Block 11. Mining access for both Block 10 and Block 11 is scheduled for August 2015. On the south mine, Block 16 is scheduled to contribute to the ramp up phase. Underground development and the establishment of infrastructure towards blocks that can benefit from mechanised or partly mechanised hybrid mining has been the focus for PTM and its contractors over the past fewmonths. A conveyor from 1 423 m down the north decline to the ore silo on surface and into the mill is expected to be completed in October 2015. The above ground portion of this conveyor has now been completed. The mill has been completed in accor- dance with the original design and as planned. The decision to add a MF-2 grind- ing circuit on completed foundations, thereby increasing capacity from 110 ktpm up to a full 160 ktpm and take the mine up to its planned 250 000 ounce 4E steady state capacity, will be made as required during 2017. 

Hatch Goba designs Copperbelt mine shafts The capability to design deep mine shaft complexes, including ancillary infrastructure such as underground materials handling systems, has stood Hatch Goba in good stead in complet- ing a second major contract on the Zambian Copperbelt.

the aim is to access deeper parts of the orebody and thereby reduce operating costs. “The detailed engineering design of the two shaft complexes includes the headgear, shaft steelwork, winder house and underground materials han- dling systems. Hatch Goba began work in early 2013, with a projected comple- tion date of June 2015 for the design phase,” du Plessis comments. “We were able to leverage off our experience and incorporate it into the expansion project, thereby saving the client both time and engineering design cost.” Hatch Goba has exten- sive experience in this regard, having designed numerous shaft complexes over the years. “We have an excellent track record, in addition to employing highly skilled and competent people in our Mining Business Unit,” du Plessis confirms. 

Having successfully completed a two-year detailed engineering design project in 2013 for a 1 300-m deep shaft (which comprised a shaft com- plex with headgear, shaft steelwork, winder house, underground materials handling systems and a mine dewater- ing pumping system), Hatch Goba was subsequently awarded the detailed engineering design for an expansion of the same project. Hatch Goba’s scope of work covers two shafts, each about 2 000 m deep, to allow the client to proceed with project implementation. Hatch Goba Project Manager Louis du Plessis states that

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