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Kumba has a robust project pipeline and has the potential of producing 70mt by 2019 |
Kumba’s project pipelines supports its stated aim of increasing production to 70Mt per annum by 2019. The 9Mt per annum Kolomela Mine being developed at Postmasburg, Northern Cape, represents the next step towards this goal. By 2013, with possible domestic sales of 6Mt from Sishen Mine, Kumba is targeting 44Mt of exports. Post 2013 the company is looking at its potential projects in the Northern Cape and Limpopo provinces, which are in different phases of study to take it to the 70Mt mark.
The Kolomela Mine developments remains on target and within budget. On a cumulative basis R5.3 billion of the approved R8.5 billion Kolomela project capex has been spent to date. Overall the project is 81% complete and remains on schedule to deliver first production towards the end of the first half of 2012, ramping up to full production of 9Mt in 2013.
The project pipeline includes completing the construction of Kolomela Mine by 2012; leveraging on technology to utilise lower grade material; pursuing identified business development opportunities in the Northern Cape and Limpopo and developing an ore replacement strategy. Kumba has five projects in its current pipeline in different study phases and wants to develop these projects for final approval in order to reach its growth target.
Sishen B Grade Project aims to produce additional product, using the additional material available with the definition of the larger optimised pit shell, as well as material that became available with the redefinition of the Sishen Mine product range. This will require increased mining activity to mine the larger pit, however being able to use lowergrade materials will result in waste being reclassified as ore. The ongoing resource optimisation study on Sishen Mine focuses on the optimal use of the surplus B grade material. This study is expected to be completed during 2012, and will give further guidance to the size and concept of the Sishen B Grade Project study. This project will potentially form part of the next envisaged export channel expansion.
This project’s aim is to beneficiate the -1+0.2mm fraction of the jig plant ROM feed currently being discarded. This fraction was not previously included in the jig plant scope due to technical risks associated with the beneficiation and dewatering of this product. These technical risks have been mitigated. The project has the potential to increase the jig plant product yield by 3% to 5%.
The Sishen Concentrate Project is a brownfield expansion project on Sishen Mine, aiming to produce of high grade iron ore concentrate from both the DMS and jig slimes.
This project aims to utilise the large quantities of banded iron formation (BIF) material available in the Thabazimbi ore reserves through increased liberation by crushing down to 5mm top size and through jig and gravity concentration of the -5mm material. Phoenix in its current form will produce 3.4Mt per annum of a combination of fine ore (>80%) and some
lump ore. The lump ore becomes available when the BIF material is mined, exposing more haematite ore for lump ore production. Exploration activities at the Phoenix site in Thabazimbi continued during 2010 as part of the prefeasibility study, which is scheduled for completion by end 2013. This drilling will continue as per schedule into 2011.
This project situated in the Limpopo province close to Polokwane, aims to utilise a magnetite resource with low contaminant levels, to produce anywhere from 1Mt up to 2.5Mt product. The product will either be a concentrate, a micro-pellet of or blast furnace pellets.
At Sishen Mine, the Sishen Western Expansion Project (SWEP) has commenced. This project will provide access to 283Mt of ROM ore from 2013. The second phase of SWEP involves the resettlement of the Dingleton town. This project facilitates access to additional resource in 2015 and is currently in feasibility stage. |
