Modern Mining March 2021

scope to grow its manganese portfolio in the region, given that East Manganese is located in the manga- nese rich Kalahari Basin, which is host to 80% of the world’s manganese ore bodies. Due to the depth and footprint of the ore, which is situated about 50 m below surface at the bottom of the pit, Menar cannot apply conventional strip mining, hence the conical shape with a ramp down to the ore. The initial phase has seen the company use load and haul mining processes. Waste mate- rial is being hauled to the waste stockpile area in order to be used at later stages fo mine rehabilitation purposes. A dry crushing and screening plant will be oper- ated on site. A major advantage of using a dry crushing and screening plant is that it will reduce water requirements and limit pressure on local water

licence in August 2019. During the second week of July 2020, the project team started grading the entrance road. The first box cut was opened on 4 September 2020. East Manganese Mine will be an opencast mine with a single mining pit, which is located on a small 50 hectare (ha) portion of the total 1 000 ha mining right area. The remaining unused portion of the min- ing area will be used for cattle and game farming by a local farmer. Menar acquired the land portion on which the proposed pit will be located. The reserve consists of a total of 1-million tonnes (t) of run of mine (ROM) and will produce and process 30 000 t of ROM per month, over an expected three-and-a-half years life of mine (LoM). However, the company is confident that there is

The reserve consists of a total of 1-million t of run of mine (ROM) and will produce and process 30 000 t of ROM per month.

A Volvo hauler deployed at the East Manganese site.

March 2021  MODERN MINING  17