Draslovka a.s, the leading speciality chemicals company, has agreed with Barrick Gold Corporation, to roll out a global testing and implementation programme for Draslovka’s cutting-edge proprietary glycine gold leaching product, GlyCat™, across several mines. The implementation of Draslovka’s technology it says “can potentially unlock substantive savings and generate value for Barrick’s operations while improving their environmental footprint.”
GlyCat Draslovka says will enable a major shift for the mining industry’s sustainability profile by substantive replacement of cyanide used in processing of gold ores with a non-toxic, food-grade reagent that is recyclable. “Depending on the type of ore, using GlyCat in existing leaching circuits allows for a 20% to 80% reduction in cyanide usage while reducing or entirely eliminating cyanide detoxification requirements. In select ores, the process also results in higher recoveries.” Supported by Draslovka’s industry-leading service, GlyCat “can potentially achieve an average reduction in processing costs of 25%, rising to 50% for some more complex ores.”
Draslovka says Barrick is the first major mining company to recognise the potential glycine leaching offers. “The programme is an opportunity for GlyCat to be systematically rolled out at a global scale, starting at the Bulyanhulu gold mine in Tanzania and several other Barrick operations as a model for the wider mining industry.”
Large scale test work programmes will be undertaken at each site to quantify the operating cost savings from the reduction of cyanide usage, potential improvements in gold recovery, and lowering of cut-off grades, all of which will allow operations to treat ore types that may have previously been uneconomic.
Commenting on the agreement, Draslovka’s CEO, Pavel Bruzek Jr, said: “This agreement with Barrick marks an important milestone in Draslovka’s mission to improve the financial and environmental sustainability of mining operations worldwide. Mining is critical for the evolution of society toward lower emissions and the energy transition as a whole. GlyCat provides an innovative and sustainable solution to address concerns around supply. This strategic partnership sets a new standard for best practice in the gold mining industry. I am excited to work together with Barrick, a global industry leader, on this exciting venture and am confident that others in the mining industry will follow suit to ensure a sustainable future.”
Simon Bottoms, Mineral Resource Management and Evaluation Executive at Barrick, added: “Rates of major gold and copper discoveries have been in steady decline over the last decade, which when combined with a rapidly evolving set of global challenges, is resulting in global supply challenges to meet the growing global demand for such critical metals. As a result it is imperative that the industry takes the necessary steps to maximise the value from existing mines that are already operational or currently under development.”
He adds: “At Barrick, optimising the geometallurgical understanding of our orebodies from both economic as well as environmental aspects is a key aspect of both our evaluation process and operating philosophy. Accordingly, we have established a partnership with Draslovka to continue to test the application of new technological innovations with the aim of delivering increased long-term value to all stakeholders from our operations and projects while also underlining our sustainability strategy which is our business plan.”