Tag Archives: Kenmare Resources

Kenmare, Mammoet begin WCP B relocation at Moma mineral sands mine

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Kenmare Resources says the relocation of Wet Concentrator Plant (WCP) B at its Moma titanium minerals mine, in northern Mozambique, is underway.

Kenmare previously announced three development projects that together have the objective of increasing annual ilmenite production to 1.2 Mt (plus co-products) on a sustainable basis from 2021, with the move of WCP B to the high grade Pilivili ore zone is the final project.

The increased production is expected to significantly lower cash operating costs to between $125-$135/t (in 2020 real terms). Consequently, from 2021 the group expects to be positioned in the first quartile of the industry revenue to cost (or margin) curve, supporting stronger free cash flow generation and providing for increased shareholder returns, it said.

WCP B, consisting of a 1,700 t floating dredge and a 7,000 t WCP, is being moved 23 km from its previous mining area at Namalope to a new high-grade ore zone called Pilivili. It is being transported along a purpose-built road using platform vehicles called self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs). The relocation of WCP B and its dredge are being undertaken by Mammoet.

Mining at Namalope completed in late August. The WCP and its associated dredge have now been successfully placed on the concrete plinths in the relocation pond and the pond has been dewatered. The dredge and the WCP are to be moved in two stages. The first stage involves the movement of the dredge – this is now underway and expected to be completed this week. Once the dredge has been relocated to Pilivili, the SPMTs will return to Namalope to transport the WCP along the same route. The physical relocation is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.

Michael Carvill, Managing Director of Kenmare, said: “The relocation of WCP B and its dredge form the third and final project of our development program to increase Moma’s ilmenite production to 1.2 Mt per annum on a sustainable basis. Once WCP B and the dredge reach Pilivili we will begin the process of re-establishing them in their new location and we expect mining to commence at Pilivili during Q4 (December quarter) 2020. I look forward to providing further updates as the project progresses.”

Operations at Kenmare’s Moma mine heat up with Royal IHC, Pyromak order

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Royal IHC and Pyromak, through a recently formed partnership, have received an order for two reheaters for Kenmare Resources’ Moma mineral sands mine, in Mozambique.

As part of the contract with Kenmare Moma Processing (Mauritius) Ltd, two indirect electric reheaters will operate at the Moma mine, located on the north-east coast of the country.

Royal IHC said the order was the result of the strong relationship between IHC and Kenmare, where IHC has recently delivered a third mining dredger for Kenmare, JULIA, to also operate at Moma.

The indirect electric reheaters allow for the uniformed reheating of products by suspending the material in a fluid-like state, according to IHC. The complete surface of the material is then exposed to the electric heating elements. The discharge temperature is measured and controlled by adjusting the voltage supplied to the electric elements.

“If no reheating is required, the control system switches off the power supply to the elements, but the fluidising fan continues to operate, allowing material to flow through the reheater,” it said. “The reheater can adjust to changes in feed and ambient conditions rapidly, and also reduces operational costs.”

IHC’s Australia based specialised business unit for the mineral sands and alluvial mining industry, IHC Robbins, and Pyromak signed a partnership to join forces to become a leading global service provider and supplier of fluidised bed drying (FBD) systems recently.

The design of IHC Robbins-Pyromak dryers, coolers and heaters is based on the fluidised bed principle. Material in a fluidised state behaves as a liquid, flowing over and under weirs, maintaining a level surface and exerting a hydrostatic head proportional to the bed depth.

Pyromak has over 35 years of experience in the product development, engineering design, installation and maintenance of fluid bed dryers and associated systems, IHC Robbins has global expertise in the resources industry (specialising in the heavy mineral sands sector). Their partnership offers a unique mix of experience and capability to deliver customised solutions, tailored to suit customers’ specific operational requirements.

Kenmare pushes ahead with Wet Concentrator Plant relocation at Moma

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Kenmare Resources’s board is backing a plan to relocate its Wet Concentrator Plant (WCP) B to the Pilivili ore zone at its Moma titanium minerals mine, in northern Mozambique, after a definitive feasibility study (DFS) indicated the move could deliver an additional 130,000 t/y of heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) from 2021.

The DFS, completed by Hatch Africa, confirmed the technical and economic feasibility of relocating WCP B to Pilivili, following the completion of the existing mining path at Namalope in the September quarter of 2020, Kenmare said.

The WCP B relocation is the last of three internal growth projects required to increase production to 1.2 Mt/y of ilmenite (plus co-products of zircon and rutile), according to the company.

WCP B and its dredge will be relocated by specialist heavy lifting and transport contractors on a purpose-built road from Namalope to Pilivili, according to Kenmare. The company’s updated investor presentation displayed a graphic of self-propelled modular transporters provided by Mammoet.

The key additional infrastructure required to commence production from Pilivili includes a HMC pumping system and power infrastructure, in addition to a 23 km purpose-built road.

The contractor will use self-propelled modular transporters to transport WCP B out of its mining pond at Namalope, along a road, including a causeway estuary crossing into the new mining pond at Pilivili. This is the same type of equipment that was used to transport the recently completed WCP C dredge in the Netherlands, Kenmare said.

The company posted a video of a simulated move here, which featured equipment from Mammoet.

The relocation and re-establishment of WCP B is expected to commence in the September quarter of 2020 for a period of up to 12 weeks, with the commissioning of WCP B at Pilivili anticipated in the December quarter of that year. During this 12-week period, production from WCP B is expected to be suspended.

“Additional mining areas have been identified for WCP B at Namalope to ensure that production is maintained, in the event of delays to the project execution schedule,” Kenmare said.

The Pilivili ore zone has the highest grades within Moma’s portfolio, with mineral reserves of 220 Mt averaging 4.4% total heavy mineral (THM). The life of mine average grade mined by WCP B at Pilivili is expected to be 4.6% THM and in the first four years of production the average grade mined is expected to be 5.3% THM. Due to these higher grades, production from Pilivili is expected to increase overall HMC production by an average of 130,000 t/y, contributing to a total of 1.2 Mt/y of ilmenite production (plus co-products) from 2021.

Additionally, Pilivili’s mineral reserves have higher zircon and rutile co-product credits than Namalope (with 0.25% zircon and 0.08% rutile in ore), which are expected to contribute to lower cash operating costs per tonne of ilmenite.

The total capital cost estimate for the relocation is $106 million, including $15 million contingency, which Kenmare expects to fund from its balance sheet and internally generated cash flow.

The most significant infrastructure requirement for the relocation of WCP B is the construction of the purpose-built road for the transportation of WCP B and its dredge. The road will be 23 km in length and 66 m wide, and construction is expected to take approximately eight months from the September quarter. HMC produced at Pilivili will be transported to the MSP using a 16 km overland pipeline and positive displacement pumping system. Electrical power at Pilivili will be provided by a new 16 km 110 kV power line adjacent to the purpose-built road, supported by a static synchronous compensator to improve reliability.

Kenmare received approval of the Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) ESHIA for Pilivili from the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development in Mozambique in May 2019, in line with the project delivery timeline. The company expects the ESHIA for the purpose-built road to be approved in the September quarter.

The contractor will use self-propelled modular transporters (“SPMTs”) to transport WCP B out of its mining pond at Namalope, along a purpose-built road, including a causeway estuary crossing into the new mining pond at Pilivili. This is the same method that was used to transport the recently completed WCP C dredge in the Netherlands.

Royal IHC readies new mining cutter suction dredger for Kenmare’s Moma mine

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Royal IHC says it has launched a mining cutter suction dredger (CSD) for Kenmare Resources’ Moma titanium mine in Mozambique.

The launch occurred on May 20, with the naming ceremony taking place on May 24. During the ceremony, held at IHC’s shipyard in Kinderdijk, the vessel was named JULIA.

The new custom-built dredger will operate at Kenmare’s Wet Concentrator Plant C project at Moma, according to IHC. It is the third dredger in Kenmare’s operation that was designed and built by IHC.

The design of JULIA was based on the success of the first two IHC dredgers in Kenmare’s fleet, MARY-ANN and CATARINA. IHC used the more than 10 years of operational experience the two vessels have had at Moma, plus its extensive knowledge of dredging technology, to update and improve the latest vessel, it said.

“Among the improvements are an increased cutter power and monitor pump power, both to ensure a high production performance of the dredger at Moma,” IHC said. JULIA is expected to operate at 600 t/h with the potential to be upgraded to 1,500 t/h in the future.

The vessel will be finalised and tested at IHC’s yard in Kinderdijk, before disassembly for transportation to Mozambique, where production is expected to start before the end of 2019, IHC said.

Royal IHC’s Managing Director of Mining & Tunnelling, Hans Greve, said: “We are very proud to celebrate the latest result of our long relationship with Kenmare with the delivery of the CSD JULIA. This vessel is the result of our close collaboration and sets a new benchmark for the mining industry.”

Kenmare Chief Operations Officer, Ben Baxter, added: “Kenmare is one of the world’s leading titanium feedstock producers and the addition of the Julia dredger will contribute to the company’s strategy of increasing production by more than 20% from 2021. Through the collaborative design and build process between Kenmare and Royal IHC, this best-in-class, bespoke dredger will deliver additional tonnage, while reducing unit costs.”