May 2014
MODERN MINING
19
MINING News
Reporting on its operations and explo-
ration activity for the quarter ending
31 March, 2014, Mwana Africa says that
tonnes milled for the quarter at its Freda
Rebecca gold mine in Zimbabwe were 8 %
higher at 279 879 t compared to 258 184t
in the preceding quarter. The increase
in tonnage processed is attributed to a
4 % increase in throughput as a result of
the second mill speed increase and a 4 %
improvement in running time, attributable
to improved maintenance.
The average feed was 1 % higher at
1,91 g/t from 1,89 g/t in Q3. Stope prepa-
ration that had affected Q3 was completed
and grades improved in the main stopes,
as anticipated. Consequently, a combina-
tion of improved milled tonnes and feed
Mwana Africa turns in improved figures
grade resulted in gold production rising by
2 % to 13 380 oz, compared to 13 072 oz in
the previous quarter.
Cash operating costs for the quarter
under review decreased to US$1 053/oz
from US$1 066/oz. All-in sustaining costs
increased by 3 % from US$1 291/oz in the
last quarter to US$1 325/oz this quarter.
This is attributable to an increase in the
asset amortisation charge for the quarter
by 10 %, a result of the commissioning
of the Tailings Retreatment Project pilot
plant.
Mwana says that pilot plant commis-
sioning is continuing. The new transformer
for the section had to be returned to the
manufacturers for repairs whilst the agita-
tor drives design has been revisited and
upgraded drives are expected during the
quarter.
Mwana also controls Bindura Nickel
Corporation (BNC) and reports that nickel
in concentrate sales of 2 207 tonnes from
BNC’s Trojan mine were achieved, repre-
senting an increase of 9,5 % compared
to the previous quarter. All-in sustain-
ing costs (C3) cash costs increased from
US$11 819/t to US$12 220/t as a result of
the continued production ramp-up and
shaft re-deepening.
At Mwana’s Klipspringer diamond mine
in South Africa, located 35 km south of
Polokwane in Limpopo Province, retreat-
ment of the Marsfontein slimes dam
produced 12 383 carats during the quarter,
an increase of over 100 % on the previous
quarter. An average price of US$21 per
carat was achieved.
View of Freda Rebecca’s metallurgical plant. In the three months to 31 March 2014, the mine produced 13 380 ounces of gold (photo: Mwana Africa).
African Copper appoints mining contractor
African Copper, the AIM- and Botswana-listed copper produc-
tion and exploration company, has announced a production and
exploration update for the fourth quarter and its financial year to
31 March 2014.
The company’s flagship project is the copper-producing open-
pit Mowana mine. African Copper also owns the rights to the
adjacent Thakadu-Makala deposit. Both deposits are situated on
the highly prospective Matsitama belt, located close to Botswana’s
second largest city, Francistown, in the north-eastern part of the
country.
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, the company produced
2 515 tonnes of copper in concentrate, a marginal increase on the
third quarter when 2 499 tonnes were produced.
The amount of ore mined from the Thakadu pit was impacted
by frequent breakdowns of the mining contractor’s fleet and rain.
Ore transported from Thakadu to Mowana for processing was also
severely affected by torrential rains during all three months of the
quarter which resulted in the frequent flooding of the Lepashe River
on the ore transportation route.
During the quarter Diesel Power Mining, a subsidiary of JSE-
listed Buildmax, was appointed to provide hard-rock opencast
mining services to African Copper. The contract commenced dur-
ing February and has a duration of 52 months. It is denominated in
Botswana Pula (BWP) and is valued at approximately BWP1 billion
(around US$112,7 million) over the contract period.
The decline in ore processed during the quarter was offset by
higher grade ore from the Thakadu pit during January and March,
and improved recoveries when compared with the previous
quarter.
Saleable copper in concentrate increased to 9 951 tonnes for
fiscal 2014, an increase for the third consecutive year.
A preliminary geotechnical report was received during March
for the area north of the current Mowana pit. The results of this
ongoing work will be factored into current studies being under-
taken to assess the potential for developing an underground mine
at Mowana.
