PDAC '07 – Anvil ahead of production schedule
Paul Garvey
Thursday, 8 March 2007
ANVIL Mining chief executive Bill Turner says his company is set to achieve its targeted total production capacity of 100,000 tonnes per annum copper ahead of schedule, with the miner now expected to reach that output level by the second half of 2009.
Anvil has long touted its objective of reaching the 100,000t milestone by 2010, but Turner told the PDAC convention in Toronto that the addition of a solvent extraction and electrowinning plant to the under-construction Kinsevere project would see the company cross the mark early.
The $US35 million ($A45 million) development of Stage 1 at Kinsevere in the Democratic Republic of Congo is currently underway. That first stage will see Kinsevere produce 25,000-30,000tpa of copper-in-concentrate.
However, the looming completion of a bankable feasibility study over Kinsevere is set to end with the green light being given to the construction of an SX-EW plant by the middle of this year.
Anvil vice president investor relations Robert LaValliere said the construction of the SX-EX upgrade was likely to take around 20 months.
While cost estimates are not yet finalised, LaValliere said industry rule of thumb suggested the development could cost $180-200 million.
In addition to Kinsevere, Anvil holds the high-grade Dikulushi mine and the Kulu tailings retreatment project.
Having wrapped up openpit mining at Dikulushi late last year, Anvil is currently working to bring the mine's underground extension into operation by the end of September. Once operational, Dikulushi underground will produce around 20,000tpa of copper for an initial six years.
The Kulu tailings project, meanwhile, is home to a measured and indicated tailings resource of 4.3 million tonnes grading 4.4% copper.
Turner explained that the comparatively high grade of the Kulu tailings stemmed from the fact the lighter material within the tailings had been effectively flushed out by heavy rainfalls over a number of years, leaving the heavier malachite behind.
"The first six months of this operation, the grade of the material presented to the plant was over 8%," Turner said.
"We have a resource here sufficient to keep us going for at least 10 years."
Perth-based Anvil is listed in both Canada and Australia.
Source: MiningNews.net
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