September is Electra Mining month so this issue includes a preview of this major event, held every two years. Despite the mining industry globally being in recession, the organisers say that this year’s show (to be held from 12-16 September at the Expo Centre in Johannesburg) will have in the region of 850 exhibitors and could attract up to 40 000 visitors.
Moving to mining companies and projects, we have a detailed article on DRDGOLD’s Ergo operation, one of the biggest and most sophisticated tailings retreatment operations in the world. As Modern Mining was able to see on a recent visit to DRDGOLD’s flagship Brakpan plant, the new flotation/fine grind (FFG) circuit at the facility is now performing to expectation after a ‘bumpy’ start and delivering small but significant recovery increases.
Still in the gold sector, we look at Randgold’s most recent quarterly performance which saw the company being challenged by a long mill downtime at its Tongon mine in Côte d’Ivoire and the continuing transition to a mixed-ore feed at its giant Kibali project in the north-east of the DRC. The company says, however, that improvement expected in the second half of the year should boost its 2016 results to within guidance.
Copper comes into focus in an article outlining the continuing excellent results from the drilling programme at the new Kakula discovery at Ivanhoe Mining’s Kamoa copper project in the DRC. These have prompted Ivanhoe’s Executive Chairman, Robert Friedland, to describe the deposit as “a complete game changer in our planning for the development of the Kamoa project.”
Liqhobong diamond mine speeds towards completion
AIM-quoted Firestone Diamonds reports that construction of its Liqhobong mine in Lesotho was 85 % complete as at the end of June 2016, ahead of the revised target of 81 %, with the plant 18 % commissioned, also ahead of target. Initial production is now expected in early Q4 2016.
Balama well into the construction phase
Reporting on its activities during Q2 2016, ASX-listed Syrah Resources says that US$22,9 million was spent on the Balama graphite project in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province, increasing total project development expenditures to US$47,1 million as at 30 June 2016. Commercial production from Balama – which Syrah says will be the largest global producer, by a substantial margin, of high purity graphite – is expected to start in Q2 2017.
WorleyParsons develops next dimension of project design
WorleyParsons began developing its integrated design project tools five years ago, taking 3D design to the next level by integrating 3D intelligent design data mapping with over 20 different engineering design processes and programmes to create a visual 5D design scope that incorporates schedule and cost.
Kakula could be “Africa’s most significant copper discovery”
Ivanhoe Mines has announced impressive assay results from an additional eight holes of its ongoing drilling campaign at its Kakula discovery at its Kamoa copper project near the mining centre of Kolwezi in the DRC’s Katanga Province.
Kareevlei modifies its processing plant
BlueRock Diamonds reports that operations at its Kareevlei mine will be resuming shortly after operations were suspended in June to allow changes to the plant configuration. The Kareevlei property is located approximately 100 km north-west of Kimberley and hosts the Kareevlei kimberlites – five kimberlite pipes ranging in size from less than a 0,5 ha to less than 5,6 ha.