Modern Mining June 2017

MINING News

Base Resources approves Kwale Phase 2 project

ASX-listed mineral sands producer Base Resources has announced that, following completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), its board has approved implementation of the Kwale Phase 2 project (KP2) at its Kwale Mineral Sands Operations (Kwale Operations) in Kenya. The incremental capital to implement KP2 is – says Base – a modest US$13,1 million, which will be fully funded from operating cashflows. The DFS has confirmed the opportunity for significant improvement in the financial returns for Kwale Operations through fur- ther optimisation of the remaining mine

life. The DFS was completed internally by Base’s project development team, sup- ported by several specialist consulting firms, and included an independent peer review process. The objective of the KP2 project is to maximise the overall economic returns of the Kwale Operations by implementing a solution to maintain maximum concen- trate feed to the Mineral Separation Plant (MSP), and therefore final production vol- umes, in the face of declining ore grades expected frommid-2018 onwards. The KP2 DFS has established that this objective can be effectively and efficiently achieved.

Mining at the Kwale Operations was originally based on a conventional dozer trap mining unit (DMU), using Caterpillar D11T dozers to feed the DMU. Historically, when mining the high-grade areas of the Kwale Central Dune, DMU mining rates of up to 1 400 tonnes per hour (tph) have been required to ensure the wet concen- trator plant (WCP) is fully utilised. To offset the declining ore grades expected from mid-2018, the KP1 mine plan assumed an increase in the mining rate to 1 800 tph. To achieve this higher mining rate with the DMU alone requires the addition of a third D11T dozer. The KP2 pre-feasibility study deter- mined that the optimal mining rate to maximise the economic returns of Kwale Operations was 2 400 tph. The KP2 pre-fea- sibility study identified hydraulic mining as the preferred method to complement the DMU to achieve the targeted 2 400 tph mining rate. Operating dual mining units has the additional benefit of allowing con- current mining of both the high and low grade ore, which assists in smoothing the grade profile to create a more consistent feed to the WCP. In August 2016, as part of the DFS, a 400 tph hydraulic mining unit (HMU) was commissioned to trial the concept. The HMU has proven to be extremely well suited to mining Kwale ore, achiev- ing higher availabilities and at lower unit operating costs than the DMU. Following Officer, said, “We are excited to welcome Johan to the Cupric team. He is a highly experienced and accomplished mining executive who brings the underground mining expertise necessary to transition the project from studies to mine develop- ment and operations. Johan is assuming the role previously held by Sam Rasmussen, who completed his three-year contract in December. Sam was instrumental in lead- ing our efforts to complete not only the resource drilling campaign and feasibility study, but also to obtain the Khoemacau mining licence. We wish Sam all the best in his future endeavours.” The new mine will be a mechanised underground operation at the company’s Zone 5 deposit. Ore will be treated at the existing Boseto process plant, which is located 35 km to the north-west. 

The hydraulic mining unit (HMU) in operation at Kwale Central Dune (photo: Base Resources).

NewMD for Khoemacau Copper Mining Cupric Canyon Capital has announced the appointment of Johan Ferreira as Head of African Operations and Managing Director of Khoemacau Copper Mining. Ferreira will lead the development of the Khoemacau copper/silver project in the Kalahari Copperbelt of north-west Botswana with construction beginning towards the end of this year. Initial production from the new mine will average 50 000 tonnes of copper and 1,4 Moz of silver per year over a mine life that exceeds 25 years. Future expan- sions are expected to increase annual production to over 100 000 tonnes of cop- per and 3 Moz of silver.

Khotsong and Great Noligwa gold mines. Subsequently, he was appointed Senior Vice President, South Africa Operations for AngloGold Ashanti. In 2014, he accepted an opportunity in Ghana with Newmont Mining Corporation as Regional Group Executive Operations and was soon pro- moted to Regional Senior Vice President – Africa Region, assuming executive responsibility for that region. While in Ghana, he was President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and a Director of the American Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) degree from the University of Pretoria and sev- eral other professional certifications and diplomas. Dennis Bartlett, Cupric’s Chief Executive

Ferreira began his mining career with Anglo American in 1986, and from 2005 to 2011 he was General Manager of the Moab

8  MODERN MINING  June 2017