As one of the world’s most experienced EPCM consultants for PGM plant, DRA Mineral Projects has once again been employed for its expertise, this time in the Mototolo Platinum joint venture. Anglo Platinum Management Services (APMS) has appointed the company as the EPCM contractor for the new UG2 concentrator at Mototolo Platinum on the Eastern Limb of the Bushveld Complex.
The 50:50 joint venture, formed by Anglo Platinum and the XK Platinum Partnership (consisting of Xstrata and its BEE partner Kagiso Trust Investments), anticipates first production by the end of 2006 and is expected to produce about 132 000 ounces of platinum and 82 000 ounces of palladium in concentrate each year. Full production is expected in the third quarter of 2007.
Both Xstrata and Anglo Platinum have each contributed a similar amount of in-situ PGM reserves and resources to the venture, from Xstrata’s Thorncliffe farm, adjacent to its Thorncliffe chrome mine, and Anglo Platinum’s bordering farm Richmond, part of its Der Brochen project area.
DRA conducted a feasibility study for the engineering, procurement, design and construction management of the 200 000 ton per month concentrator in the first quarter of 2005. In April of the same year detailed engineering design of the concentrator plant and infrastructure began and the project team was mobilised. The joint venture was finalised and construction commenced in the last quarter 2005. DRA Mineral Projects is in the process of completing the civil and steel erection phase with a target hand-over date as planned
In terms of the joint venture, Xstrata will develop and operate the mine, contributing its expertise in mechanised board-and-pillar mining methods. Ore will be transported to the concentrator by overland conveyor.
Anglo Platinum will design, construct and operate the MF2 PGM concentrator..
Anglo Platinum will purchase the XK Platinum Partnership’s 50% share of PGM concentrate for further smelting, refining and marketing of the finished product. Xstrata will build a beneficiation plant at its own cost to process the chrome tailings arising from the PGM concentrator and will purchase Angloplat’s share of chrome concentrate. Capital expenditure to commissioning is estimated at R1.35bn ($200m) to be paid for equally by both parties. The mine is expected to have a life of 20 years.
DRA’s scope of work includes the following:
* Ore reception and single stage crushing circuit
* Primary and secondary milling
* Rougher and cleaner flotation
* Tailings and concentrate thickening
* Pumping of tailings to a disposal dam
* Concentrate filtering, handling and load out facilities
* Plant internal water reticulation
* Associated reagent make up and distribution and LP air reticulation
* Storm water containment
* Plant sewerage
* HT equipment and transformers
* Plant internal roads and earthworks
* Managing, with assistance from SRK (designers) the construction of a tailings dam complex including return water dams
DRA Mineral Projects specialises in providing technologically advanced processing plants and engineering services. The company is an experienced contractor for PGM plant and undertakes all aspects of a project from initial testing and piloting to final commissioning as well as plant extensions, upgrades, and process control and optimisation.
For further information contact:
Phildi Scholtz
DRA Mineral Projects
Tel: +27 11 202-8600
Fax: +27 11 202-8801
E-mail: pscholtz @drasa.co.za
Website: www.drasa.co.za