Outotec says its new Modular Paste Backfill Plant (MPB 80) is a high-quality, cost-effective plant solution for underground non-ferrous mining applications with low-range backfill throughput requirements.

The MPB 80 acts as an “ideal alternative” to installing a concrete batching-style plant that has been reconfigured for producing paste backfill, according to the company. The wet tailings solution uses 80 m2 of vacuum disc filtration and is geared towards mines with an ore production capacity of between 700,000 t/y and 1 Mt/y.

As Outotec says, a high-quality backfill system is vital to ensure mine integrity and the safety of personnel, as well as to minimise the volume of tailings that need to be directed to tailings dams on the surface.

“With a dedicated paste backfill plant, mines can produce high-quality paste at a lower cost than is possible with modified concrete plants and larger, previous-generation paste backfill plants.”

Because the Outotec Modular Paste Backfill Plant features a combined paste mixer and hopper in place of separate units, it enables significant reductions in both plant size and maintenance requirements, the company says. “In addition to reducing the plant footprint, this unique process design significantly reduces the need for cleaning, meaning the plant can run for multiple shifts without having to shut down,” it said.

The plant components are pre-assembled off-site and delivered in larger, pre-engineered modules, enabling a significantly shorter interval between order placement and installation and start-up.

Other key benefits include a reduction in capital expenditure without compromising paste backfill quality; a reduction in the need to direct tailings to surface dams for deposition; lower operating expenditure over the mine life with highly accurate binder addition; and a full range of operations and maintenance services available to ensure smooth, efficient operation.