18 October, 2002
Project highlights:
- Site Construction activities commenced
- Project value $19 million
- Expansion of existing copper processing facility to 2.2 Mtpa
- Scheduled for completion February 2003
Ausenco has commenced the site work activities associated with the processing plant modifications for the Mount Gordon Stage II Expansion Project, located in North-West Queensland. The Project consists of the expansion of the processing plant by the installation of a secondary ball mill, flotation circuit, tailings thickener and associated ancillary equipment.
The total capital cost of the Stage II Expansion Project is $19 million, and Western Metals Copper Limited (Western Metals) plan to spend an additional $46 million over the next 3 years to redevelop the Mammoth underground mine.
The aim of the Stage II Expansion Project is to supplement the reducing amounts of high-grade ore from the Esperanza orebody with larger quantities of chalcocite ore from the Mammoth underground mine, and consequently maintain copper cathode production at 52,000 tpa until June 2005. The flotation circuit will treat approximately 2.2 Mtpa of chalcocite ore to produce a copper concentrate feed for the existing leach plant.
The processing plant modifications include the installation of the following:
- 5 x 7.75m EGL, 3400 kW secondary ball mill
- 4 x 100m³ rougher flotation tank cells
- 19m tailings thickener with associated tailings disposal pumps
- Process water neutralisation system
- Reagent mixing and dosing system
- Associated power, instrumentation, concrete and structural packages.
Personnel from Ausenco’s office worked with Western Metals’ technical support and operations personnel to develop the process flowsheet (based on a metallurgical testwork programme) and then generated capital and operating cost estimates that were used during the project approval process.
Completion scheduled for February 2003.
For media & investor enquiries & questions contact
Craig Allen, Chief Financial Officer on 61 7 3112 8200
E-Mail:
For business development enquiries contact
Stuart Ratcliffe, General Manager Business Development on 61 8 9223 1900
E-Mail:
Ausenco Limited, provides multi-disciplined engineering, procurement, project and construction management services to the mining, minerals and metal processing industry. The company participates in all phases of a project’s progression, from project scoping studies, process option/technical review assessments, feasibility studies utilised for project financing, through to project design, construction and commissioning. Ausenco’s group of companies also services companies through their operation and maintenance division, supplying key asset management and operational support. These services are applied to projects in a broad range of processing areas, both nationally and internationally.
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