Modern Mining May 2018

GOLD

expected to be based on an updated resource model that will likely include the results of on- going exploration works on the main deposit. Comments Martin Horgan, Toro’s CEO: “After a highly successful construction period, the transition to operations has gone extremely well with all aspects of the mine operating either in line or better than forecast. Adrian de Freitas, General Manager, and the whole operations team have delivered an excellent first set of results and it has been achieved safely with no LTIs recorded for the period. I am also delighted to note that of the total work- force 88 % are Senegalese and over 60 % are employed from the local Kedougou region.” 

production which is 18 % lower than forecast – this short term change has been implemented without impacting on the availability of mill feed during the balance of 2018 and beyond. Commissioning and ramp up of the process- ing plant has been excellent, says Toro, with steady state production at nameplate levels experienced from within a month of the first gold pour. Accordingly, year to date milling is some 18 % above forecast as a result of both the rapid ramp up and mill availability of 95,4 % over the period against the forecast 94 %. Further, despite this increase in throughput, the plant is achieving its target grind size of P (80) 125 μm while using approximately 6,5 MW of

power against the design of 8,4 MW. General observations of wear points throughout the comminution circuit indicate better than forecast liner life which has led to lower operating costs and higher availability of the plant, reports Toro. The fixed tail grade is some 44 % lower than forecast, leading to improved metallurgical recover- ies with the year to date indicating a recovery of 94,8 % over the period against a budget of 91,3 % recovery. Further optimisation of the pro- cess plant will occur over the next six months to determine the optimal performance of the facility with target grind size, reagent use and throughput rates/power consumption reviewed with the aim of improving gold pro- duction and reducing costs. Total employment at the mine during April, inclusive of all sub- contractors, was some 754 people. Training and skills development of the local Senegalese workforce remains a focus to ensure that the mine contin- ues to provide the maximum long-term benefit to both the local and national economy of Senegal. Toro says that management focus for the rest of 2018 will be to identify further optimisation opportunities to improve the already excellent oper- ating parameters. A review of the open-pit mining schedule and haul- age routes, powder factors and reserve calculations will be completed in parallel with a review of plant perfor- mance which will look at throughput and grind size trade-offs to determine an optimal new life of mine plan dur- ing the second half of 2018. This is

May 2018  MODERN MINING  29