Northern Minerals Managing Director, George Bauk provides a progress update on the Browns Range pilot plant project, under construction in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia, including the following achievements:
• Operational Readiness in progress, commissioning workshop held in Perth
• Tony Hadley appointed GM Operations
• Third and final main shipment of equipment and plant components has been delivered to Browns Range
• Installation of Pilot Plant on track for completion by 30 June 2018
• SPP underway, positive response, marketing by Oz Financial.
Primero Group has all but completed concrete works in the process plant area and is making good progress with installation of structural steel and process plant modules, with completion on track for end June 2018.
Delivery of the third and final main shipment of equipment and modular components from Sinosteel to Browns Range has been completed with 98% of the pilot plant equipment now at Browns Range. The next small shipment has left China and is due in Australia in February.
Tony Hadley has been appointed to the position of General Manager for the project commencing mid-February. Tony spent 2.5 years with Northern Minerals as Process Manager during the feasibility study stages, undertaking metallurgical test work as well as developing the process flowsheet and operational strategies for the Project.
His appointment strengthens the Operations team with several other key operational team members already engaged, including Louis de Klerk (R&D Manager), Mark Wild (Senior Process Engineer), Larry Fawell (Senior Chemist) and James Bainbridge (Maintenance Supervisor).
The Operations team has commenced work on development of operations systems and procurement of key supply contracts and together with the Project, Sinosteel and Primero teams participated in a commissioning workshop in Perth to develop the commissioning plan for the project.
Northern Minerals’ tenure around the Browns Range project covers an area of some 3,595 km2 and is centred on the Browns Range Dome, a major geological feature covering approximately 1,500 km2. The Dome is located in the northern Tanami region, within both Western Australia (WA) and the Northern Territory (NT).
This massive landholding is highly prospective for heavy rare earth (HRE) mineralisation with outstanding potential for further discoveries. Northern Minerals’ exploration success to date has been exceptional, with six out of 13 targets converted to mineral resources and many more highly prospective targets identified.
Northern Minerals has 100% ownership and marketing rights for all but three of the tenements covering the Browns Range Dome. The other three tenements are a Joint Venture with Toro Energy, where Northern Minerals is earning up to an 80% interest.
