Technical Report's data. Total proven and probable Cu/Co reserves in Cu equivalent at prices 1.5/15$/lb amount to 3 Million t Cu or 6614 million lb Cu.The Property consists of the underground workings at the original Kamoto Mine (including the Kamoto Principal and Etang areas) as well as three variously flooded open pit mine areas; Dikuluwe, Mashamba East and Mashamba West (collectively known as the DIMA pits), and the dry Musonoie-T17 West area. The Property is made up of two separate land packages for a total concession area of 15,235 hectares. The physical facilities include the Kamoto Concentrator and Luilu metallurgical plant, related shops, warehouses, railroads and power lines.
Proved Cu and Co reserves as shown in the Technical Report are as follows:
This summary is built from the Technical Report's data. Total proven and probable Cu/Co reserves in Cu equivalent at prices 1.5/15$/lb amount to 3 Million t Cu or 6614 million lb Cu.
The initial refurbishment and rehabilitation of the Kamoto Mine, Kamoto Concentrator and Luilu Metallurgical plant and related infrastructure will require approximately six months as the Kamoto Mine requires only limited work to restore it to production. A new trackless equipment fleet is to be purchased. The existing pumping infrastructure will be upgraded and new ventilation fans will be installed. Limited maintenance of the remaining infrastructure is required. Mining can begin almost immediately once the equipment arrives on site. Mining will be a combination of the historical room and pillar system and a newly introduced longhole retreat stoping (LHRS). The use of longhole retreat stoping will increase resource recovery to an estimated 80%, as well as improve operational flexibility. To carry out this mining system, backfill plants will be required.
The open pits will be mined to provide oxide ore. Production will begin in the Musonoie-T17 West pit and will continue there for approximately three years while the Mashamba East pit is being dewatered and prepared for mining. Open pit mining will also be carried out in both Mashamba West and Dikuluwe in later years. Open pit mining will be carried out by a contractor.
The Kamoto Concentrator is currently operating on a limited basis as ore becomes available. Initial work will consist of general maintenance to the plant and mills. Over time the concentrator will continue to be upgraded as production increases. Beginning in phase 3, and continuing to the beginning of phase 4, new floatation cells will be added to the circuit.
The Luilu metallurgical plant will undergo refurbishment to restore it to a reliable operating state. The plant flow sheet will be retained; however, new filter technology and two new roasters will be added to the plant during the different phases.
As meaningful exploration has not been carried out in the region since the early 1980’s, the Project area holds significant potential for new discoveries, and further target generation and exploration drilling should be undertaken. Additional drill holes in the southern region of the underground workings of the Kamoto Mine would aid in confirming and converting the high grade Inferred Resources into the Indicated and Measured categories.
Mis en ligne le 27 janvier 2007 par Pierre Ratcliffe Contact: (pratclif@free.fr) site web: http://pratclif.free.fr