A feasibility investigation of the life-of-
 mine of manganese-miner Assmang’s 
 Beeshoek iron-ore mine has defined a mining future beyond 2013.

The life-of-mine plan for Beeshoek is being finalised for local contract sales; options for the mine in terms of local market opportunities are being explored and the conversion application for new mining rights has been submitted. The exploitation of additional orebodies at the Beeshoek mine could see Assmang’s production increase to between 18-million tons a year and 22-million tons a year from its Beeshoek and Khumani iron-ore mines combined.

“We are actively looking at any opportunities to further expand the Beeshoek mine. It is by no means an exhausted mine. However, any possible future expansion will be significantly influenced by the Southern African steel industry,” says African Rainbow Minerals (Arm) ferrous division executive Graham Butler.

The Beeshoek mine consists of five opencast pits which have not been exhausted with supporting infrastructure, including processing plants, load-out stations, mining vehicles and housing. The mine is operated by Assmang, which is jointly owned and controlled by Arm and Assore. Arm is responsible for the management and technical side of the operations, as well as the company secretariat, while Assore is in charge of product marketing, sales and the provision of technical consulting services.

Assmang has been mining iron-ore at Beeshoek, near Postmasburg, since 1964, but its reserves have been nearing depletion, with most mining activities at Beeshoek having closed and production being achieved from stockpiles and dumps.

Butler reports that the near depletion of 
reserves and the availability of higher-quality ore were the main catalysts for the development of the Khumani mine. Beeshoek, which is no longer able to sustain a production level of six-million tons a year was set to become a local market mine, easily able to produce two-million tons a year. However, Butler notes that Assmang has received a commitment from State-owned logistics company
Transnet to extend the current iron-ore 
export allocation from 10-million tons a year to 14-million tons a year from Khumani with the possibility of further increases in the 
future, increasing Assmang’s export capacity accordingly. This has led to a re-evaluation of the mine’s resources.

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.