Metso Outotec has signed a contract to deliver all of the main process technologies for Sandfire Resources’ flagship T3 (Motheo) copper-silver concentrator in Botswana. The order value of approximately €17 million was booked in the Minerals segment’s Q1/2021 orders received. The 3.2 Mt/y greenfield plant will be built in the Kalahari copper belt in Botswana, with the potential to expand to 5.2 Mt/y in the future.
Metso Outotec will deliver all key minerals processing equipment including gyratory and pebble crushers, apron feeders, semi-autogenous (SAG) mill and the associated reline machine, TankCell® flotation cells, Vertimill® fine grinding mill, high rate thickeners, and a pressure filter. Additionally, spare parts and supervisory services will be supplied to support commissioning and plant ramp up. Delivery will take place during 2021 and 2022, and the plant is expected to start production in late 2022 or early 2023.
“We are pleased to continue our strategic partnership with Sandfire Resources. We have worked with Sandfire in the past and are very grateful to be selected again for their flagship Motheo project. Our proven proprietary and sustainable technologies will support Sandfire with achieving their international growth and diversification strategy,” says Kai Rönnberg, Vice President, Minerals Sales, Asia Pacific at Metso Outotec.
Sandfire’s Tshukudu Operations include the T3 (Motheo) copper-silver project. The project is held through in-country subsidiary Tshukudu Metals, was acquired through Sandfire’s acquisition of MOD Resources Ltd in October 2019. Tshukudu, meaning rhino in the Setswana language, is responsible for the day-to day activities of our operations in Botswana. Tshukudu works seamlessly with specialists from Australia and Sandfire’s executive management team, liaising on a daily basis.
Sandfire completed a positive Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) in December 2020 on an initial base case 3.2 M/y processing capacity and open pit development of the T3 deposit. Based on the results of the DFS, Sandfire’s Board has approved the mine development, with construction set to commence in FY2021 and first production scheduled for FY2023. The DFS outlined a robust initial 12.5-year operation, underpinned by an updated Ore Reserve of 39.9 Mt at 0.9% Cu and 12.2 g/t Ag for 360,000 t of contained copper and 15.6 Moz of contained silver, producing on average ~30,000 t of contained copper and 1.2 Moz of contained silver per annum over the first 10 years of operations, with relatively low capital intensity and robust operating margins.
