NEWS
Barrick Gold : Kibali Continues to soar to greater heights
The Barrick Gold operated Kibali
Joint Venture in the DRC produced
808,134 ounces of gold in 2020 , achieving the top-end of production guidance for the year1 . This performance was driven by its underground operation which achieved record monthly and quarterly ore production in December and Q4 2020 .
Kibali is a world leader in automated underground mining , through systems that allow multiple autonomous machines to operate on the same haulage and production levels , and provide realtime visibility of all operations as well as automated control of the ventilation fans .
Leading-edge technology is also being harnessed elsewhere at Kibali and the successful commissioning of an online particle size analyzer will optimize fine grinding on its ultrafine grind ( UFG ) mills . Kibali has , since commissioning , consistently lowered its carbon emissions thanks to its three hydropower stations and the implementation of predictive maintenance monitoring at these plants will further minimize downtime . Its new battery-based reactive power support system has further reduced the mine ’ s reliance on back-up thermal power .
At the same time , Kibali has retained its focus on exploration and resource conversion and looks set to once again replace the ounces depleted by mining , thus extending the life of the mine .
Its open-pit operation is set up for a solid year with development of the access to the Sessenge orebody completed ahead of plan . A robust open-pit component has been included in the mine plan and will provide additional processing flexibility to the plant over the next 10 years . Kibali retained its ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 safety and environmental accreditations . Effective Covid-19 prevention protocols also remain in place . Having donated more than $ 2 million to the DRC government in the form of equipment to support the national campaign
against the pandemic , Kibali is currently partnering with the National Laboratory Institution in training medical staff to diagnose the disease .
Barrick president and chief executive Mark Bristow said the pandemic response had once again demonstrated the company ’ s value as a partner to its host countries and communities .
“ While protecting our people and our business from the impact of Covid-19 , we have continued to invest in community improvement projects , skills development programs to deliver more Congolese managers and technicians , and the implementation of the second phase of the Watsa / Durba concrete road construction . Kibali ’ s policy of supporting and mentoring local contractors and suppliers has created a new economic frontier in this remote region . Last year we spent more than $ 200 million with local businesses on services such as civil construction , roadworks , plant maintenance , trucking and catering ,” he said .
Over the past 10 years , Kibali has pumped $ 3.4 billion into the Congolese economy in the form of taxes , permits , infrastructure , salaries and payments to local suppliers .
Metso Outotec wins an order for an iron ore pelletizing plant in China
Metso Outotec has signed a
contract with Beijing Shougang
International Engineering Technology Co . Ltd ( BSIET ) on the delivery of environmentally sound technology for an iron ore pelletizing plant to be built in Southwest China .
The order value is not disclosed . The contract has been booked into Metals segment Q4 2020 orders received .
Metso Outotec ’ s scope of delivery covers the engineering and design of the indurating system , engineering of the process gas fan system , supply of proprietary and key process equipment , instrumentation and control systems , as well as supervisory services and technical training . The core of the plant is Metso Outotec ’ s traveling grate pellet indurating furnace with a grate area of 432 m ².
“ We are very pleased about this new order , and we are looking forward to working with the customer operating the steel plant and our long-term partner BSIET . This is the second pelletizing plant contract we ’ ve received in China within six months , underlining the strong presence of our traveling grate technology on the Chinese market ,” says Tobias Stefan , Vice President , Ferrous
& Heat Transfer business line at Metso Outotec .
Pellet production at the plant is estimated to start by mid-2022 . Metso Outotec ’ s traveling grate technology produces uniform pellets and ensures high performance and quality with low investment and operating costs , as well as low energy consumption and emissions .
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