KOLWEZI -
The project's monthly total of 2,069 metres of underground development is comprised of 1,696 metres at the
Several underground development headings at the
The main access drives between northern and southern declines have less than 520 metres remaining before they connect in the high-grade centre of the deposit. The connection is expected to occur next month and will significantly increase ventilation to the centre of the orebody, allowing for additional mining crews to begin work in Kakula's high-grade ore zones.
In addition to driving the main connecting access drives, underground mining crews at Kakula are focused on preparation work for developing the high grade, drift-and-fill stoping blocks in the centre of the orebody, where the average grade is up to +8% copper. Opening up of the mining footprint for these high-grade stoping areas entails development work in areas of low-, medium- and high-grade ore, and is designed to coincide with the start-up of the processing plant next year. This will allow mining crews to deliver high-grade stoping ore directly from the underground to the processing plant.
Drift-and-fill stoping is a highly-efficient form of underground mechanized mining and will allow the operation to efficiently recover significantly more tonnes from the orebody. Once drift-and-fill stoping operations begin, mining at the
Underground development at the
Pre-production surface ore stockpiles now total more than 803,000 tonnes
In September, mining crews at the Kakula and Kansoko mines produced and transported to surface approximately 132,000 tonnes of ore, bringing the project's total pre-production ore stockpiles to an estimated 803,000 tonnes. September's ore production is approximately 24% higher than August.
The ore being mined from the northern portion of the
Two additional, pre-production ore stockpiles are located at the Kakula South decline (approximately 168,000 tonnes grading 2.73% copper) and the Kansoko decline (approximately 95,000 tonnes grading 2.34% copper).
'The new underground record achieved in September puts development progress months ahead of plan,' said
'The next major milestone in the mine's development will be the joining of the northern and southern access drives, which is expected in November. Once this is achieved, the opening up and ledging of the drift-and-fill blocks can commence in the high-grade core of the deposit, where the average grade is up to +8% copper,'
First copper production expected in less than a year
Initial production at the
All long-lead items for Kakula's initial 3.8-Mtpa processing plant now have been delivered to site with the exception of the transformers, which are currently en route and expected around the third week of October.
Development work at the
Underground development of the
The connection drifts are expected to be joined in November. This will increase underground ventilation, allowing additional mining fleets to begin working in the high-grade ore zones.
Development of the eastern perimeter drives also is well advanced and a second set of connection drifts are being planned. Mining of medium-grade ore in the room-and-pillar block is progressing well.
Kakula's northern access drive #1, showing a high concentration of gray-coloured chalcocite ore. Chalcocite, which is almost 80% copper by weight, largely accounts for the mine's average feed grade of 6.6% copper over the first five years of operations, and 5.2% copper on average over a 21-year life.
Construction of the initial 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant and other surface infrastructure rapidly progressing; orders for long-lead-time items now being placed for the second 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant
Construction of Kakula's initial 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant is progressing well. Civil works are now nearing completion, with approximately 24,000 cubic metres (of a total of 31,000 cubic metres) of concrete poured to date. Concrete bases for the bulk of the plant areas have been fully or partially handed over to the mechanical contractor, and mechanical erection and installation is underway in almost all plant areas.
Structural steel fabrication is complete, with the bulk of the structural steel already delivered to site. Fabrication of platework is complete, with a number of items already on site and installed. Piping is progressing according to schedule with around 15 kilometres (of a total of 81 kilometres) of piping already delivered.
Over 1,000 tonnes of steel now has been installed. All floor and sidewall plates for the concentrate thickener and the tailings thickener are in position, and welding is complete. Steel erection on the mill building is progressing well. Prefabrication and installation of the plant front-end conveyor gantries is well advanced. Steel erection of the concentrate storage shed and the reagent store house is underway.
Both ball mills have arrived on site and the shells, trunnions and motors have been lifted into position.
All long-lead items for the initial 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant have been delivered to site with the exception of the transformers, which are currently en route and expected around the third week of October. The transformers are the heaviest single piece of project equipment, weighing 85 tonnes each.
Construction of the tailings dam has commenced and is progressing well, with the aim to complete most of the earthworks before the rainy season starts in November.
Cranes installing the shells and trunnions for the second of two identical ball mills that will be used to grind the copper ore at Kakula's initial 3.8-Mtpa processing plant. A 3D illustration of the finished ball mills (shown in green) is below, with the next two ball mills for the recently-initiated second processing plant shown in magenta.
Discussions underway for the marketing of Kakula's copper concentrates
Kamoa-Kakula is in detailed discussions with a number of parties with respect to the marketing and smelting of its copper concentrates. Kakula is expected to produce an extremely high grade and clean copper concentrate that will be highly coveted by copper smelters around the world. Metallurgical test work indicates that the Kakula concentrates contain extremely low arsenic levels by world standards - approximately 0.01%.
Clean, sustainable hydroelectric power for Kamoa-Kakula
Construction activities at the Mwadingusha hydroelectric power plant, where all six turbines are being replaced, is progressing well; as is the associated 220-kilovolt (kV) infrastructure to supply Kamoa-Kakula with clean hydropower. The mine is scheduled to be energized with permanent 220kV hydro-generated power in early 2021, well in time for first copper production.
The temporary construction power supply for the
Construction of the 220kV supply infrastructure is in progress, including a new 220kV distribution sub-station for SNEL, the power utility; a new 35-kilometre, 220kV power line and a consumer substation at Kakula with two 80 MW/220kV transformers.
Construction activities at the Mwadingusha hydroelectric power plant are nearing completion and the plant will soon be generating 72 MW of clean, sustainable hydroelectricity for the national grid.
Kamoa-Kakula's COVID-19 readiness initiatives focused on risk mitigation
In accordance with health guidelines from the DRC government, and in line with the country's lifting of restrictions, Kamoa-Kakula's Congolese workforce have gone back to normal work rotations. Rigorous testing, physical distancing, wearing face masks, frequent hand washing and contact-tracing measures are still in place to protect the safety and health of the workforce and community members. All expatriate employees are still required to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival at Kamoa-Kakula.
The project has established a COVID-19 isolation facility at the Kamoa camp. Potential symptomatic patients are moved to this facility, where they will be isolated, tested and treated. Once patients have recovered and are deemed no longer infectious, they can return to work only after an additional quarantine period determined by the project's medical staff.
As the pandemic evolves, the medical team at Kamoa-Kakula is reviewing and updating its risk mitigation protocols. The project's preventative measures are at the highest international standards and, if there was a case internally, the risk of spreading or cross-contamination is very low.
Kakula's backfill plant under construction in the foreground, with the initial 3.8 Mtpa processing plant in the background. Approximately one half of the mine's tailings will be mixed with cement in the backfill plant, then pumped back underground, significantly reducing the surface tailings storage.
Contact:
Tel: +1.604.331.9834
Forward-looking statements
Certain statements in this release constitute 'forward-looking statements' or 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as 'may', 'would', 'could', 'will', 'intend', 'expect', 'believe', 'plan', 'anticipate', 'estimate', 'scheduled', 'forecast', 'predict' and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will' be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.
Such statements include without limitation, the timing and results of: (i) statements regarding the northern and southern access drives at Kakula are expected to be joined in
As well, all of the results of the pre-feasibility study for the Kakula copper mine and the updated and expanded
Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed below and under 'Risk Factors', and elsewhere in this release, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.
The company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors set forth below in the 'Risk Factors' section in the company's Q2 2020 MD&A and its current annual information form.
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