Tag Archives: Kamoa Copper

Epiroc receives third large equipment order from Kamoa Copper for Kamoa-Kakula

Base metals, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , , , , ,

Epiroc says it is continuing its successful partnership with Kamoa Copper SA in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the OEM winning its largest-ever order to date tied to the expansion of the Kamoa-Kakula copper mining complex.

Kamoa Copper has ordered 65-t-payload Minetruck MT65 S haulers, as well as 18-t-payload Scooptram ST18 S loaders, Boomer 282 face drilling rigs and Simba E70 S production drilling rigs.

The machines will be used to expand operations at Kamoa-Kakula, which is projected to be among the world’s lowest greenhouse gas-emitting copper mines per unit of metal produced.

The order is valued at almost €60 million ($65 million) and was booked in the September quarter of 2023.

Kamoa-Kakula is set to become one of the world’s largest copper mines and will have one of the most favourable environmental footprints of all major copper mines, according to one of the major owners, Ivanhoe Mines.

“The customer’s focus on sustainability and productivity, coupled with the large size of the mine, makes it especially exciting to contribute to its success,” Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO, says.

Sami Niiranen, President of Epiroc’s Underground division, added: “We are proud and happy to be able to continue contributing to Kamoa Copper’s success as it expands its operations.”

Epiroc has had a local presence in the DRC since 2001, and currently has about 120 employees in the country, mostly Congolese nationals.

The new order is the third large order that Epiroc has received from Kamoa Copper for Kamoa-Kakula. In 2022, Kamoa Copper ordered SEK160 million ($14 million) worth of equipment, and in the June quarter of 2022, it ordered equipment valued at about SEK125 million. Epiroc will also provide service of the machines, as well as on-site technical support and operator training.

Jan Johannes Hough, Executive Engineering at Kamoa Copper SA, said: “Kamoa Copper SA chose Epiroc to be one of our strategic partners for the supply of trackless mobile mining equipment due to its proven and matured industry track record. The equipment selected proved to be reliable and feasible in various applications in the mining industry. It will play a critical role in achieving production targets in line with the expansion program of Kamoa Copper SA and the resulting guidance given to the market.”

The ordered machines have several advanced features, such as Epiroc’s telematics system, which allows for intelligent monitoring of machine performance and productivity in real-time. Delivery will begin in 2024.

Metso Outotec to deliver Planet Positive milling, concentration and filtration tech to Kamoa

Base metals, Comminution of minerals, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, Water management, , , , , , , , , ,

Kamoa Copper SA has selected Metso Outotec to supply key concentrator plant equipment to the company’s copper mining complex expansion in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the OEM reports.

Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery consists of Planet Positive processing equipment, including energy efficient HIGmill™ regrind mills (pictured) with polyurethane wear linings. The delivery also includes Larox® PF 60 Series concentrate filters and TankCell® flotation cells for the efficient recovery of valuables.

“One of the key missions for Kamoa Copper SA is to implement low-carbon technology to advance sustainable production of copper,” Charles Ntsele, Vice President, Minerals Sales for Metso Outotec in Africa, says. “Metso Outotec’s Planet Positive offering supports our customer’s ambition, allowing us to be a true partner for positive change.”

Early in July, Ivanhoe Mines, which owns 39.6% of Kamoa-Kakula, reported record producion in the June quarter of 87,314 t of copper in concentrate produced.

Metso Outotec also announced this week that it had signed an agreement with Larsen & Toubro Limited to supply four Symons™ cone crushers for an iron ore crushing and screening plant to National Mineral Development Corporation’s (NMDC) Kirandul complex in Chhattisgarh, Central India.

The new Symons cone crushers have advanced features that will make the customer’s operations more efficient and reduce maintenance efforts compared with earlier versions and to other equivalent crushers on the market, Metso Outotec says.

TLT-Turbo launches new range of ‘superfans’ for mine ventilation

Environmental, Mine ventilation, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, , , , , , ,

TLT-Turbo GmbH has redesigned its auxiliary and booster fan range to improve both efficiency and cost-effectiveness for ventilation applications in the mining industry.

The development of the new fan range concept began in early 2015, according to the company.

Following a global study to gain an understanding of the market requirements, the range was defined in mid-2017, with the fabrication of the first units taking place shortly thereafter, the global ventilation fans and systems manufacturer said.

Michael Minges, Technical Director at TLT-Turbo Africa, who headed up the fans’ designs, said: “The development of the auxiliary and booster fan range would not have been possible without the input of clients. This ensured that we focused on key market-driven requirements including energy efficiency, noise reduction, cost-effectiveness and turnaround time.

“To sell these products, we needed to ensure close customer relationships and visibility. We are striving to change the industry’s mindset on the use of such fans to ensure proper fan selection for the ventilation required. In optimising mine ventilation, efficient, high-quality auxiliary and booster fans can add as much value as surface fan installations.”

TLT-Turbo started commissioning of the first iterations of the fan range towards the end of 2017 within the Sub-Saharan market through its Africa office. From there, it based the development of the various fan sizes of the new range on market interest.

The fan range is being rolled out in phases. The preliminary testing at sites located in Sub-Saharan Africa has been launched successfully. The next phase is globalisation as the new range will be rolled out in the USA, Canada, Europe, Russia and Australia.

Following this, product supply and support will be extended to TLT-Turbo offices in South America and India. In the interim, though, Minges said these fans can be supplied to clients worldwide from TLT-Turbo Africa.

Minges said as energy efficiency is one of the main drivers of industrial equipment usage, and minimum efficiency requirements on certain equipment are often legislated, TLT-Turbo identified the need and opportunity in the market for “more efficient mining fans compared to what is currently in use”.

The new designs include several innovative additions to enhance performance in order to provide “exceptional” underground ventilation, the company said.

“The fan range was developed using the latest in engineering flow technology which allowed TLT-Turbo to improve the aerodynamics, and thus the efficiency of the fans. A unique stator design and aerodynamic fairings, all manufactured from wear-resistant composite materials, resulted in improved efficiencies and reduced noise levels.”

Meanwhile, the modularity of the fan casings allow for quick and easy assembly with interchangeable ancillary fan parts, according to the company.

“The motor mounting, in coherence with a machined impeller track, ensures low and controllable blade tip clearances for improved performance and efficiencies,” TLT-Turbo said. “Pad mount motors are used for all fan sizes and help reduce vibration levels in the axial direction of the motor significantly which leads to longer motor bearing life and lower maintenance requirements.”
Minges said all possible measures are taken to ensure the highest quality and best possible performance of every fan supplied by TLT-Turbo.

“All fans are ISO 5801 tested unless the client agrees to type testing on higher volume orders,” he said. “We ensure the client quoted performance is met before the fans leave the factory. Test certificates on both raw data and calculated performance can be provided on request.

“Fan efficiency is determined with the performance test and this quality check ensures we deliver on what we promised the client. Clients are regularly invited to witness the performance tests to sign off on acceptance. The fans also come with pressure ports that can be hooked up to a calibrated handheld measuring device to measure performance in-situ.”

In addition to performance and efficiency, ease of maintenance was also a major consideration in developing the new range.

The modularity of the product design and the interchangeable standardised parts allows for quick turnaround time on parts supply, according to the company.

“For example, we only have two blade types for the full product range and generally only one motor barrel per fan size accommodating various motor sizes and types,” Minges said.

“Standardisation on the product is the key to successfully managing maintenance and repair as it allows ample supply of spares for companies certified to do the repair work. The design track record has indicated a longer mean time between failures than previous products.”

TLT-Turbo Africa has received a number of orders for these fans since the end of 2017. These orders include South Africa clients seeking a solution for deepening a gold mine and for Kamoa Copper in the DRC as an exclusive supplier.

Minges said: “The feedback that we have received, thus far, has been that the fans are meeting our and our client’s expectations. I am proud to say that one EPC consultant used the phrase ‘superfan’ to describe the new range and indicated that he has not heard a fan of this size so quiet before.”