Tag Archives: SENET

Cora Gold adds SENET, CSA Global and Epoch Resources to Sanankoro DFS team

Environmental, Mineral exploration, Mineral project development, Mining services, Precious metals, Water management, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cora Gold Ltd has made key appointments related to the definitive feasibility study (DFS) it is carrying out on the Sanankoro gold project in southern Mali, bringing SENET, CSA Global and Epoch Resources into the study team, as well as naming Russell Bradford as Project Manager.

SENET, a DRA Global group company, has been appointed as independent project manager to oversee the critical elements of the DFS, while CSA Global, a member of the ERM group of companies, will be the geological and mining consultant, tasked with managing the updated mineral resource estimate and mining study. Epoch Resources has been appointed to oversee the tailings storage facility of the DFS.

The DFS will build upon the January 2020 scoping study, which outlined average annual production from Sanankoro of 45,632 oz.

Following positive metallurgical test work results in the second half of 2020, in addition to more recent positive drilling results, the company says it is likely it will look to focus on a conventional gravity/carbon in leach processing route at Sanankoro to allow higher recoveries.

Bert Monro, CEO of Cora Gold, said: “2021 has seen significant activity at Sanankoro with exceptional results reported from our largest ever drill campaign at the project. These results will support an updated mineral resource estimate in the coming months, which, in turn, will be used as the basis for our DFS aimed at outlining the optimum route to develop Sanankoro into a new gold mine in Mali.

“Last year’s scoping study highlighted the potential high returns for Sanankoro and fuelled our confidence in Sanankoro’s strong fundamentals, and the company looks forward to publishing the DFS in the first half of 2022.”

SENET wins EPCM gig at AMAK’s Moyeath copper-zinc project in Saudi Arabia

Base metals, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining services, Power supply for mines, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Co (AMAK) has awarded SENET, a wholly owned subsidiary of DRA Global, the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract for the design and execution of the Moyeath copper-zinc project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SENET says.

AMAK has been producing copper, zinc in concentrate and gold and silver in doré from its operations in the country since 2012.

Moyeath is a third major orebody (together with Saadah and Al Houra) discovered in the immediate vicinity to the AMAK underground mines. The Moyeath orebody is a high-grade copper-zinc volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit, SENET says.

The planned 400,000 t/y run of mine flotation process plant will produce copper and zinc concentrates, while filtered tailings will be trucked to an existing dry stacking area operated by AMAK, which handles tailings from its Al Masane (pictured) and Guyan process plants.

Preliminary test works shows it is possible to produce saleable copper and zinc concentrates, with most of the gold and silver reporting to flotation concentrates, SENET noted. The mineralogy of the Moyeath orebody is complex and requires a similarly complex approach to produce copper and zinc concentrates at favourable recoveries and saleable concentrate grades.

Mkango, Grupa Azoty PULAWY assess potential for Polish rare earth separation plant

Energy minerals, Environmental, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mkango Resources has joined with Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Pulawy SA to work towards development of a rare earth separation plant in Poland.

A new Polish wholly owned subsidiary of Mkango, Mkango Polska, has been established, with an experienced Country Director for Poland, Jarosław Pączek, appointed. Pączek will be joined by rare earth separation experts, Carester, and a strong team of technical advisors and engineers to help steer the collaboration.

Grupa Azoty PULAWY is part of The Grupa Azoty Group, the EU’s second largest manufacturer of nitrogen and compound fertilisers, and a major chemicals producer. Its products are exported to over 20 countries around the world, including Europe, the Americas and Asia, according to Mkango.

The parties have signed an exclusive lease option agreement for a site adjacent to Grupa Azoty PULAWY’s large-scale fertiliser and chemicals complex at Pulawy in Poland. This location is served by excellent infrastructure, access to reagents and utilities on site, and an attractive operating environment, resulting in a highly competitive operating cost position for the plant, based on scoping studies to date, Mkango says.

“Located within a Polish Special Economic Zone, the site provides excellent access to European and international markets,” it added. “Production from the plant will strengthen Europe’s security of supply for rare earths, used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and other green technology and strategic applications, and aligns with European initiatives to create more robust, diversified supply chains.”

The plant is expected to initially produce approximately 2,000 t/y of neodymium, praseodymium and/or didymium (NdPr) oxides as well as a heavy rare earth enriched carbonate, containing approximately 50 t/y dysprosium and terbium oxides. It is also expected to produce lanthanum cerium carbonate. Mkango is also evaluating marketing and processing options for the heavy rare earth enriched carbonate and lanthanum cerium carbonate.

“The plant will use best-in-class, conventional and proven technology, and will benefit from excellent rail and road infrastructure as well as the direct supply of the required processing reagents from Grupa Azoty PULAWY,” Mkango said. “It will also have access to a local skilled workforce, on-site engineering and project development expertise and R&D science institutes.”

Based on scoping studies undertaken to date, the plant is expected to have highly competitive operating costs.

Further feasibility studies will be completed by Carester, SENET (a DRA Global Group company) and a local engineering firm, Prozap, together with support from Grupa Azoty PULAWY. Mkango is also working closely with ANSTO to optimise feed specifications for the plant.

Development of the plant is expected to be underpinned by the sustainable supply of a purified mixed rare earth carbonate from Mkango’s Songwe Hill project in Malawi (pictured). Mkango will also evaluate the potential to process third-party feeds. The feasibility studies for the plant will run in parallel with those for the Songwe Hill rare earths project.

Mkango says it will also seek to maximise the renewable energy content and minimise the carbon impact of the developments in both Malawi and Poland, as part of the feasibility studies.

William Dawes, Chief Executive of Mkango, said: “Development of this plant will underline Mkango’s unique positioning in the rare earths sector. Our integrated ‘mine, refine, recycle’ strategy, encompassing sustainably sourced light (NdPr) and heavy (Dy/Tb) rare earths from Malawi and rare earth magnet (NdFeB) recycling in the UK, via our interest in HyProMag, is now enhanced by the opportunity to create a rare earths separation and downstream hub in Poland, working with one of Europe’s largest chemical and fertiliser companies.

“Rare earths are a vital component of magnets required in many technologies needed for the green energy transition. Therefore, their security of supply is becoming increasingly important to governments worldwide, especially in Europe and the US.

“We have carried out extensive due diligence on the site and believe the development of the plant in Poland will enhance the sustainable supply of rare earths into Europe, as well as bringing significant benefits to the region, creating new jobs and potential, additional, downstream developments.”

Andrzej Skwarek, Management Board Member of Grupa Azoty PULAWY, said: “We look forward to working together with Mkango on this exciting project, which complements the adjacent activities of Grupa Azoty PULAWY, benefiting from synergies in relation to reagents, by-products, utilities and infrastructure. As an industry leader in Poland, Grupa Azoty PULAWY welcomes this potential new development to the region and will continue to support Mkango as it progresses through the feasibility studies.”

Jarosław Pączek, Mkango’s Country Director for Poland, said: “This is a very exciting development for Poland at a time when Europe is focused on strengthening supply chains for critical materials and transitioning to a greener economy. The creation of a new European hub for rare earths at the heart of central Europe in Poland complements battery, electric vehicle and renewable energy developments in the region, with a site strategically located for European trade and transport routes and benefiting from plug and play access to reagents and utilities. I look forward to working with Mkango and Grupa Azoty PULAWY on this ground-breaking project for Poland and Europe.”

Euro Sun Mining plots Rovina Valley gold-copper production route in DFS

Base metals, Environmental, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining services, Precious metals, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Euro Sun Mining’s definitive feasibility study (DFS) on the Rovina Valley gold and copper project in Romania has outlined the development of two open-pit mines for a 21,000 t/d operation producing 132,000 oz of gold-equivalent over a 16.8-year mine life.

The company plans to use a phased development approach at Rovina Valley, with the development of the two open pit gold-copper deposits, Colnic and Rovina, included in the DFS and the exploitation of the Ciresata underground deposit (not included in the study) phased in following completion of open-pit mining. Ciresata is envisioned as a bulk underground mining operation and will be evaluated for its economic potential in a later study, the company added.

Estimated initial capital expenditure came in at $399 million (including $12.7 million in pre-strip), with average all-in sustaining costs of $813/oz of gold-equivalent. Using $1,550/oz gold and $3.30/lb copper prices, the post-tax net present value (5% discount) came in at $359 million.

These results were broadly in line with a May 2020 target of outlining a DFS with an 18-year mine life, with initial capital expenditure in line with the preliminary economic assessment – which showed off a capital expenditure bill of $339.7 million.

The Rovina Valley project is planned to be mined with a standard open-pit mining method using articulated trucks and a hydraulic loader. The open-pit mining operation is anticipated to last around 16.5 years, during which the lower-grade material will be stockpiled on a pad close to the primary crusher location for treatment over another 18 months. The DFS incorporates simple flotation without the use of cyanide and dry-stack tailings, the company said.

On the latter, the company said: “KCB have designed a waste management facility within the project area for the co-deposition of waste rock and filtered rougher tailings. Process plant rougher tailings will be filtered in the plant where the resultant filter cake will be transported by conveyors and will be co-mingled with waste rock prior to deposition. The cleaner tails will be filtered separately from the rougher tailings and the resultant filter cake will be transported by conveyors and deposited separately within a lined zone contained within the boundary of the co-mingled facility and will be stored separately in a lined zone of the waste management facility.”

Euro Sun said the design had been engineered to reduce the risk of development of impacted seepage from potentially acid-generating waste rock and capture the impacted seepage from the cleaner tailings.

“After completion of mining the Colnic pit, the waste rock and rougher tailings will be preferentially backfilled into the Colnic pit, while the cleaner tails will continue to report to the lined zone of the waste management facility,” it added.

The company said it is targeting first production from Rovina Valley in 2024.

Euro Sun Mining taps SENET for Rovina Valley project DFS

Base metals, Mineral project development, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , , , , ,

Euro Sun Mining says it has given DRA Group’s SENET the task of delivering a definitive feasibility study on the Rovina Valley Project, in Romania.

SENET, a leading project management and engineering firm in the field of mineral processing, has completed in excess of 200 projects and facilities, as well as over 300 studies, in which the scope of work has included a variety of mineral/metallurgical process plants, crushing and screening plants and bulk materials handling facilities for mining and industrial applications, according to Euro Sun.

The engineering firm will oversee and consolidate studies from a number of industry experts to fast-track the study in order for Euro Sun to be able to start construction on its Rovina Mining License, Euro Sun said, adding that the study is expected to be completed by year end.

A February 2019 preliminary economic assessment on Rovina, which factored in only circa-29% of total mineral resources, estimated average annual production of 139,000 oz of gold-equivalent over a 12-year mine life. This came with a capital expenditure bill of $339.7 million, including $264 million for a central plant built for all three deposits.

The company is targeting an 18-year mine life, with initial capital expenditure in line with the PEA, in this updated study.

Darren Naylor, Managing Director of SENET, said: “We are excited to be awarded the study on such an exciting project and are very excited about the prospect of supporting Euro Sun in delivering a world-class study. We believe that our track record in delivering projects on time and within budget will be mutually beneficial to SENET and Euro Sun and we look forward to a long and rewarding partnership.”

Sam Rasmussen, Chief Operating Officer of Euro Sun, said: “We are very pleased to have SENET on board. SENET has time and again delivered projects in remote countries, with logistical and cross-border challenges, and this is the type of expertise we require to take Rovina to the ‘ready for construction’ phase. SENET has a reputation for delivering projects on time and within budget and this is why we have appointed them on this project.”

AGG looks to fast track Kobada gold project on SENET engineering outcomes

Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , , ,

SENET has completed the engineering assessment on an expanded output scenario at African Gold Group’s Kobada gold project, in southern Mali, which suggests throughput could exceed the definitive feasibility study target of 100,000 oz/y.

The assessment outlines a 3 Mt/y run of mine feed combined with a gravity circuit and a carbon-in-leach (CIL) section at Kobada, which has a global resource base of over 2.2 Moz of gold, African Gold Group says.

The positive result of the metallurgical test work, which confirmed the potential for consistent gold recovery of 96% across all ore types, up from 80% previously, has allowed SENET, a subsidiary of DRA Global, to design a plant offering the flexibility to treat all ore types from the Kobada gold project, the company said.

“Incorporating experience at other West African operations, the plant is designed with ease of construction and operation as a priority,” African Gold Group said. “The simplified flowsheet (which minimises the requirement for expensive and long lead process equipment) is expected to also reduce the construction schedule to roughly 18 months from 22 months. Overall power consumption is expected to be low given the soft nature of the ore at Kobada.”

Danny Callow, Chief Operating Officer of the company, said: “Our flexible and robust oxide processing plant requires low power and uses proven technology able to treat our blend of saprolites and laterites. Our gravity and CIL process provides a 96% recovery of gold with low reagent consumption and low power requirement. All of these components contribute to a low all in sustaining cost and competitive capital cost.”

He added: “At current gold prices, we are keen to advance this project to construction as soon as possible.”

Some of the time saving mentioned by Callow is due to SENET having completed a significant amount of the detailed engineering on the Kobada process plant, as well as identifying international suppliers able to provide the capital equipment in the shortest possible timeframe, the company said.

Hugo Swart, Operations Director of SENET, said: “The positive results out of the test work program has allowed SENET to complete the front end engineering design for the entire plant. SENET has furthermore progressed large sections of the plant to a point of detailed engineering stage.

“The progress we have made in the last few months will no doubt allow African Gold Group to develop the project rapidly. We are also exceptionally pleased that we were able to complete this work on time and significantly under budget given the challenging circumstances of COVID-19.”

The update forms a major part of the DFS, which is expected to be delivered this quarter.

Mkango gives SENET the leading role for Songwe Hill rare earths DFS

Energy minerals, Mineral project development, Mining project news, Mining services, , , , , ,

Mkango Resources has appointed DRA Global’s SENET as Lead Engineer and Project Manager for completion of a feasibility study on the Songwe Hill rare earths project in Malawi.

SENET’s appointment is another key milestone for completion of the study, which is being funded by Mkango’s strategic partner Talaxis Ltd. A number of workstreams are underway, including mining studies, comminution, flotation, hydrometallurgical test work, and studies in relation to the environmental, social and health impact assessment.

Mkango says SENET has longstanding experience in project management and in providing detailed multidiscipline engineering, procurement, logistics management, and construction services to the mining, mineral processing, infrastructure and materials handling industries. It has carried out many studies for mining companies throughout Africa and boasts the largest and most advanced hydrometallurgical process engineering team on the continent, according to Mkango.

William Dawes, Chief Executive of Mkango, said: “The selection of SENET was measured against a range of criteria, and its technical capabilities and African experience were key factors in the decision. Mkango has the right financial and technical partnerships in place to enable development of Songwe into Africa’s leading producer of rare earths.”

The main exploration target in the 51% -held Phalombe licence is the Songwe Hill rare earths deposit. This features carbonatite-hosted rare earth mineralisation and was subject to previous exploration in the late 1980s. Mkango completed an updated prefeasibility study for the project in November 2015, with a feasibility study currently underway, the initial phases of which included a 10,900 m drilling program and an updated mineral resource estimate. In March 2019, the company announced receipt of a £7 million ($8.7 million) investment from Talaxis to fund completion of the study.

Hummingbird to add second ball mill to crushing and grinding mix at Yanfolila gold mine

Metallurgy, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, , ,

Hummingbird Resources has decided to add a second ball mill to its Yanfolila mine in Mali, only nine months since the operation started producing gold.

The addition of a second ball mill at Yanfolila is in place of the tertiary crusher the company initially thought would be suitable for later life as the operation transitioned to 100% fresh ore.

The mill is due to be operational in the September quarter of next year and is expected to set the company back some $13 million.

The Yanfolila crushing circuit is currently a two-stage operation incorporating both primary and secondary crushing circuits designed to treat a blend of oxide and harder ores. The ore is non-
refractory and the process plant design uses gravity and carbon-in-leach for the processing and recovery of the gold which averages 92.5% over the life of mine.

The original definitive feasibility study plan was to add a tertiary crushing circuit in order to allow the plant to process 100% hard fresh ore later in the mine life.

“However, the annual throughput was expected to decrease from 1.24 Mt/y to 1 Mt/y, when operating with 100% fresh ore which led to the life of mine average production dropping to 107,000 oz/y from 130,000 oz/y in the first full year of commercial production,” Hummingbird said.

On top of this, a review of the scope for a tertiary crushing circuit indicated higher costs and complexity of operation, leading the company to carry out a tradeoff study between the secondary ball mill and tertiary crusher.

The conclusion was the addition of a secondary ball mill could maintain the current 1.24 Mt/y capacity when processing 100% fresh ore and, when blended with 25% oxides, throughput rose to 1.4 Mt/y.

Hummingbird concluded: “The incremental gold recovered, and increased revenue associated with installing a secondary milling circuit outweighs the higher operating costs and incremental capital costs associated with the same.”

The addition of a second mill also provides the company with some flexibility should issues arise with the primary mill, supplied by Outotec.

Project management and engineering firm SENET will carry out the installation of the mill as part of an EPCM contract. SENET was the EPCM contractor for the Yanfolila mine build, which was delivered on time and budget.

Hummingbird expects to pour some 105,000-115,000 oz of gold this year.