Northern Star Resources Ltd has placed an order for a wide range of FLSmidth mineral processing technologies for its Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) Operations’ mill expansion project, according to the Denmark-headquartered OEM.
KCGM Operations are east-northeast of Perth in Western Australia, part of one of the richest goldfields in the world, the so-called Golden Mile close to the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
The order is valued at approximately DKK 515 million ($75.1 million) and was booked in the June quarter of 2023. The equipment is due to be delivered during 2024.
Under the agreement, FLSmidth will supply a range of MissionZero products covering most of the flowsheet, including SAG mill, ball mill, primary crusher, pebble crushers, flotation cells and a pre-leach thickener. In addition to these technologies, the order also includes spare and wear parts. Upon installation, these technologies will substantially reduce the mine’s energy consumption.
The 20 MW grinding mills will be the highest power, gear-driven mills in the world and the ball mill will be the first gear driven 28 ft (8.5 m) diameter ball mill, according to FLSmidth.
“This order is yet another important milestone in our ambition to enable zero emission mining by 2030, and we are very pleased with Northern Star Resources’ contribution to fulfilling this ambition,” Mikko Keto, CEO at FLSmidth, said.
This week, Northern Star announced the final investment decision on the KCGM Mill Expansion project, agreeing to invest A$1.5 billion ($1 billion) to boost the mill’s capacity to 27 Mt/y, from 13 Mt/y.
Northern Star Resources’ Managing Director, Stuart Tonkin, said of the FLSmidth order: “Northern Star’s purpose is to generate superior returns for our shareholders, while providing positive benefits for our stakeholders through operational effectiveness, exploration and active portfolio management. Being a responsible producer for the benefit of our shareholders, employees, other stakeholders and the communities in which we operate is key to our sustainable operations. We are pleased to partner with globally leading technology suppliers like FLSmidth in advancing our five-year profitable growth strategy.”