Strongbow Exploration has engaged Siltbuster Process Solutions (SPS) and Nomenca Ltd to undertake process specification and outline design works for a water treatment plant at Strongbow’s South Crofty project located in Cornwall, UK. Strongbow successfully completed water treatment trials in March 2017 and subsequently has submitted an application to the Environment Agency for a mine water discharge permit. Upon receipt of the water discharge permit, the project will be fully permitted.
The water treatment plant will be designed to treat 25,000 m3/d and enable dewatering of the mine workings in the South Crofty project area.
Richard Williams, the Company’s CEO, commented: “This is an important step in the development of our South Crofty project and will enable Strongbow to begin construction of the water treatment plant, subject to financing, as soon as we receive the discharge permit from the Environment Agency. The Company expects to receive the discharge permit later this year, and commence dewatering of the mine in the first half of 2018, as planned.”
SPS, based in Monmouthshire, UK, was responsible for overseeing the recent successful water treatment trials at South Crofty. SPS has extensive experience in the design, construction and operation of mine water treatment plants, including plants at Wheal Jane, Hemerdon, Dawdon (all in the UK) and Strieborná in Slovakia. SPS will be responsible for providing the process specifications for the plant and the outline design. It will also provide technical support during the detailed engineering and construction phases and be responsible for commissioning the plant.
Nomenca, based in St. Austell, UK is a subsidiary of North Midland Construction and operates in a variety of industries as a specialist Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control and Automation (MEICA) contractor providing consultancy services, design and construction, operation and maintenance of assets. Nomenca has extensive experience in both the mining and water treatment sectors having undertaken multiple projects for Imerys, Wolf Minerals and South West Water. Nomenca will initially be undertaking target costing and outline design works for the treatment plant, which is expected to lead into the detailed engineering and construction phases.
The South Crofty project includes a past-producing underground tin mine. Mining in the area dates back some 400 years. Mining at South Crofty ceased in 1998, following 13 years of sustained low metal prices. The South Crofty project has a valid mine permit (until 2071) with surface and underground planning permissions.
Strongbow acquired South Crofty in July 2016 and has since published a NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, and a PEA on February 16, 2017. The mine is presently flooded but recent water treatment trials have demonstrated that the water can be successfully treated to a quality sufficient to permit safe dewatering of the mine. A water discharge permit application was lodged with the Environment Agency in April 2017 and is expected to be awarded in September 2017, which should enable mine dewatering to commence in Q2 2018.