Global projects and exploration
and USD100 000 shares in Montero at the market
value at the time, subject to regulatory approval.
The agreement also provides that once Montero has
sufficient confidence that ore grade material can be
mined and processed economically, the Founders shall
be granted a further USD600 000 of Montero shares,
subject to regulatory approval.
Montero has made application for more than
13 800 hectares of contiguous ground in the
Atacama, covering one of the target areas defined by
preliminary reconnaissance sampling.
According to Dr Tony Harwood, president and
CEO of Montero, Chile is one of the foremost
mining jurisdictions and a major source of global
lithium supply.
Australia
DRA lands two big contracts
Core drilling samples at Danakali’s Colluli project in Eritrea.
South African engineering firm DRA Global has
been awarded the Front-End Engineering Design
(FEED) contract by Hasting Technology Metals
at the company’s Yangibana Rare Earths Project in
Western Australia.
Yangibana will be Hasting’s first rare earths
project on the Australian continent, containing
substantial neodymium and praseodymium
resources. The project spans about 650km² and is in
the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, almost
250km north-east of Carnarvon, and will supply the
growing demand for new technology metals.
After completion of a definitive feasibility study
(DFS) in 2017, Hastings has now undertaken to
develop Yangibana further, specifically the vital first
phase of the processing plant. The site plot plan has
been approved and is ready for detailed engineering
and execution to proceed.
[12] MINING MIRROR JANUARY 2019
The flow sheet for this initial project will comprise
two key elements: beneficiation and hydrometallurgy.
This FEED scope of work shall progress the process
plant engineering design and place long lead
equipment orders to obtain vendor data, in order to
progress engineering in critical areas.
A further outcome of this scope of work will be
to define the requirements for detailed engineering,
procurement, construction and management
(EPCM) of the Yangibana Rare Earths Project
processing facility.
Also, this scope of work will progress engineering
and update the project cost estimate for the
Yangibana Rare Earths Project processing facility.
The processing plant has been fast-tracked by
Hastings, and the first phase is expected to be
completed by the end of December 2018.
In addition to the Australian project, DRA
confirmed that it has been appointed as the
preferred EPCM contractor at Danakali’s Colluli
potash project in Eritrea.
DRA will be responsible for all aspects of
design, project management, procurement,
construction management, and supervision, as well
as commissioning of the complete process plant
and associated infrastructure, including provision of
all temporary construction facilities. DRA will also
be responsible for awarding major contracts such
as early works; earthworks; structural, mechanical,
piping, electrical and instrumentation works;
laboratory and permanent camp (including life
support, freight, and logistics).
Danakali, on behalf of CMSC, conducted
a competitive EPCM tender process and
evaluation for the project based on the FEED
study. The tenders were assessed by Danakali and
multinational engineering consultants Turner &
Townsend against strict, established evaluation
criteria. DRA was the standout in a premium field
of global engineering groups.
Madagascar
Pontoon to the rescue
According to Weir Minerals Africa dewatering
product specialist Neil Matthews, regular
engagement with Rio Tinto’s QIT Madagascar
Minerals (QMM) operation and a good
understanding of local conditions allowed Weir
Minerals Africa to provide the optimal solution to
the customer’s recurring challenge on a process pond.
According to Matthews, the mine was
experiencing continual collapse of the 20m suction
hose to the Warman AH 12/10 pump mounted on
a skid at the back of the pond. This resulted in the
need to keep priming the pump and was causing
regular downtime.
“Unpacking the issues facing the customer was
the first part of upgrading the mine’s process water
utilisation,” says Matthews. “We discussed several
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