Modern Mining April 2020

MODULAR PLANTS

Reaping the benefits of modular Building a new processing plant can be an expensive endeavour. Therefore, mining operations are turning to modu- lar plant systems that offer several advantages, essentially the low capital costs that are reflected in a higher return on investment, and improved cost to recovery ratios, writes Munesu Shoko .

O ne of the major trends in the mining and min- erals industry has been a move towards the design and construction of modular plants applicable for certain size commodities and minerals processing plants. A key driver of these solutions is that they offer lower capital costs and a quick return on investment compared with their con- ventionally tailored plants, a major drawcard for the junior mining sector. Additionally, modular systems offer quick lead times because they comprise quick and easily avail- able modules that can be on site and operational within a short space of time. Several manufacturers can customise these self-contained, high recovery plants for minimal start-up capital, using high-quality components and in-house expertise. One of the major names in the modular plant sys- tems is DRA Global (DRA), which has a special focus on bigger EPCM (Engineer, Procure, Construction and Management) projects. DRA offers clients

extensive experience in project development and delivery. As a total solutions partner, DRA focuses on the project fundamentals, namely targeting higher return on investment and improved cost to recovery ratios. Grant Westcott GM – Modular Division at DRA, tells Modern Mining that the company has a range of modules available, primarily in gravity separation (Dense Media Separation and Spiral Separation). “Our standard modular plants are designed to process coal, iron ore, diamonds, chrome, manga- nese and mineral sands, as well as metalliferous ores – both precious and base metals – that are disposed to preconcentration and the removal of gangue using dense media separation (DMS) and gravity separation technologies,” explains Westcott. Pilot Crushtec International is another major supplier of modular plants in Africa. The company introduced its modular plant concept to market around 2004. Since then, the company has seen

Pilot Crushtec introduced its modular plant concept around 2004.

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30  MODERN MINING  April 2020