I think using the mobile crusher for DSO is pointless because it requires two passes to bring it to spec increasing the cost because of double handling and tonnage limitations. The ore sorter was only ever a trial and first mentioned 12 months ago that they were going to investigate the use of these, this is for beneficiation purposes integrated within the crushing circuit and as a stand alone method of DSO is once again limited with tonnage plus double handling. The crushing circuit at 500 tph is what is required but scalping of the native copper again requires double handling until the process circuit is ready for commissioning but does gives us revenue quickly. What I want to see is straight DSO crushed, minimum tonnage for shipping would be 5000 tonne and could be crushed in a day but how much is there I don't know but I would say there is at least 5000 tonne which at a guess would be 3 months away.
Zed does make a valid point about the commissioning period until full production is achieved but commissioning isn't just throughput but recovery as well. There will be revenues created during this period especially scalping of the native copper. Dry commissioning such as direction testing, valve actuation, belt tracking wont take long but once ore is processed it will be slow to start with bottle necks and DCS issues to overcome whilst trying to get recoveries from a plant that keeps stopping and starting takes time and is painful. Wont be much profit for the first few months with low rates and low recoveries but there will be revenue and a lot of bitching on here I suspect.
CDU Price at posting:
$1.67 Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held