SEPA RATION TECHNOLOGIES

handling safer and easier. A separate transformer rectifier is used to deliver power.

Density separation – Kumba ' s UHDMS back on track

Anglo American’ s Kumba Iron Ore recently provided an update on the UHDMS project at Sishen, which has resumed following the board’ s approval of a further investment in the project, announced on 29 August 2024. The UHDMS project will convert the current DMS processing plant at Sishen to UHDMS technology. This technology uses specialised ferrosilicon in the plant processing of raw iron ore and allows greater flexibility to process a wider range of Fe grades and densities. The implementation of the technology will improve the Fe quality, the proportion of premium iron ore, and lower the waste stripping ratio, while maintaining Sishen’ s high lump: fine ratio of 70:30.

The implementation will follow a modular approach, with six UHDMS coarse modules out of eight and five fines modules out of seven being converted. The project resumed in November 2024 and is on track for the implementation of the first module in 2025. The main tie-in of the project is planned to take place in 2026, and the plant is expected to reach full capacity by the end of 2028. During the implementation phase, the modules not under construction, as well as the jig plant, will continue to run, and production will

be supplemented by finished product stock.

The UHDMS technology will play an essential role in positioning Kumba for a sustainable future. The technology is expected to provide

significant value uplift. These benefits include lowering the cut-off grade, which reduces the stripping ratio; increasing the volume of premium-grade products from less than 20 % to above 50 %; and securing Sishen’ slife-of-asset to 2040, with the option to extend it to 2044.

The development dates back to 2013, when Tenova Bateman( now SGS Bateman) supplied a

50 t / h mo odular pilot UHDMS plant to Sishen,

Kumba Iron Or e is pr essi

ing ahead with its UHDMS technology project

following Kumba and Exxaro Resources signing a Joint Development Agreement in April 2012 to commercialise the UHDMS technology concept developed by Exxaro.

This plant has been used to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of separating iron ore at

operating densities above 4.2 g / cm 3, using the cyclone-based UHDMS technology and offers Kumba the ability to improve separation efficiencies beyond that of the existing Sishen Jig Plant in some particle size fractions.

Sishen produces iron ore at an average Fe content quality of ~ 64 % and an average

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