Modern Mining August 2019

FLUORSPAR

concentrate is sent, via a single Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separator (WHIMS) for final iron removal, to a high-rate thickener for concentration before filtration. The concentrate produced is stored in a covered area before being dispatched to market. The metspar concentrate is briquetted on site on an outsourced basis by Picko, a South African company that specialises in this area. Both acidspar and metspar tailings are pumped to the final tailings thickener for water recovery before the solids are discarded to the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF). Situated in a small valley not far from the Outwash Fan mining area, the TSF has been designed to accommodate around 9 Mt of tailings over the life of mine and is complete and commis- sioned. The tailings will have a high iron content and SepFluor is investigating whether it will be possible to recover this at a later stage of the mine’s life. The concentrator plant was designed and con- structed under an EPC contract awarded to a joint

venture between DRA Projects SA and Group Five Construction (the Nokeng Joint Venture). Group Five Construction went into business rescue prior to the completion of the plant but SepFluor, in conjunction with DRA, was able to minimise the impact on the project. An outsourcing model has been adopted for many of the mine’s operations. “Apart from Andru for the mining, contractors include Stefanutti Stocks, who are managing the TSF, and EP Dryden, who not only supplied and installed the steam plant but who are also responsible for its operation and mainte- nance. We have also contracted a BEE company to supply diesel to the mine. We will run the concentra- tor in-house but Minopex, part of the DRA group, is assisting with the training of the operators during a transitional phase,” says Wagner. People from multiple communities around the mine were prioritised for the roughly 900 fixed-term jobs during construction. Now that the mine is oper-

Andru Mining machines at the Plattekop mining area during a break in mining operations.

The scene at the official opening with Rob Wagner at the podium and some of the mine’s final product in the background.

ating, there are 135 permanent workers and around 70 contract workers employed, most of them local. In August last year an on-site Mining Qualifications Authority- accredited training centre – known as the Dr Lelau Mohuba Training Centre, after SepFluor’s Chairman – opened its doors on the mine property. Built by SepFluor at cost of R17 million, the 2 400 m 2 training centre will train more than 4 500 men and women from communities within a 25 km radius of the mine in a range of skills. Some of the permanent employees for the

22  MODERN MINING  August 2019