ASX-listed Kimberley Diamonds Ltd (KDL) reports that open-pit mining operations have begun at its Lerala diamond mine in Botswana. Assuming that recommissioning of the process plant proceeds as planned, the first production and recovery of diamonds is expected this month (April) and the first diamond sales in June 2016.
Basil Read Mining machines in action at Lerala (photo: Kimberley Diamonds).
As announced by KDL in February this year, the mining contract for Lerala was awarded to Basil Read Mining Botswana following a competitive tender process.
Basil Read mobilised staff and equipment to site during the months of February and March. Mining then commenced early in April from the K3 kimberlite pipe and operations will continue to develop a buffer stockpile of fresh kimberlite ore. Mining will then ramp up in line with the current production schedule to provide a consistent feed to the processing plant once processing commences.
The Basil Read fleet of equipment includes a Komatsu PC850 hydraulic excavator, a Komatsu D155 tracked bulldozer, Komatsu HD465-7 haul trucks, a Komatsu WA430 front end loader and an Atlas Copco T45 drill rig, as well as a fleet of service/support vehicles and equipment.
KDL says that plant construction activities continue to progress well despite recent delays experienced due to higher than usual rainfall being experienced at site.
The primary scrubber, secondary crusher, 400-tonne DMS storage bin and the new recovery module are all structurally complete, with electrical and instrumentation work well advanced. Construction of the tailings dam extension commenced in March 2016 and is progressing on schedule to accept tailings this month (April). In addition, construction of the new dry tailings conveyor system was started in March 2016.