May 2014
MODERN MINING
7
MINING News
over an extended period. After acquiring a 68 %
interest in Kipushi from Gécamines in November
2011, Ivanhoe Mines assumed responsibility for
ongoing rehabilitation and pumping, which now
has dewatered to the 1 265-m level. Gécamines
continues to hold a 32 % interest in Kipushi.
Johansson also reported that Ivanhoe recently
received the findings of an independent review
conducted by MSA Group of Johannesburg,
based on results of a comprehensive re-sampling
programme of historical Kipushi core from drilling
by Gécamines into the Big Zinc Discovery in the
early 1990s.
MSA’s review of the recent re-sampling
revealed that the zinc assay results generally
report higher – and averaged 5,5 % higher – than
the assay results originally reported by Gécamines.
MSA also concluded that the density applied by
Gécamines for estimating the tonnage in the Big
Zinc Discovery was understated by an average of
9 %. Despite the low bias, the review confirms that
historical assay values reported by Gécamines are
reasonable and can be replicated within a rea-
sonable level of error by international accredited
laboratories under strict QA/QC control. This is an
important milestone for Ivanhoe as part of its pro-
gramme to establish current resource estimates
for its Kipushi project.
Kipushi cross section showing Ivanhoe drill holes KPU001 and KPU002.
Sese coal project could export power to Zambia
ASX-listed African Energy has entered into a
non-binding Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with Zambia’s electricity utility, ZESCO,
and Maysen and Borowski Investments (M&B),
an Australian-based investment and corporate
advisory firm.
Zambia is currently experiencing a period of
strong economic growth centred on new mine
and smelter developments in the Copperbelt
in the northern part of the country. These new
developments, plus the expansion of several
existing large-scale mines, are leading to a sub-
stantial increase in demand for power.
In terms of the MOU, the parties have
agreed to work together to explore the poten-
tial for the delivery of 300 MW of base-load
electrical power fromAfrican Energy’s Sese coal
and power project into ZESCO’s grid in south-
ern Zambia, 500 km to the north of Sese.
African Energy will undertake a desktop
study to evaluate preferred options for the
transmission and integration of power from
Sese into southern Zambia. Preliminary stud-
ies have confirmed that there are no fatal flaws
in the transmission options under evaluation.
ZESCO will provide access to its technical capa-
bility and information to assist African Energy
with the transmission and integration study.
