Name of the Project
Krone-Endora at Venetia project expansion.

Location
Limpopo, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Diamcor Mining.

Project Description
The project entails a two-phase expansion of the processing facilities.

The first phase will double the current processing volumes in the near term. This phase includes the installation of a new materials handling step (scrubbing), the improvement and expansion of the diamond concentration system, the installation of a new electronic diamond X-ray recovery unit and various other refinements to lower water and power consumption on a per-ton basis.

The second phase is aimed at finalising the project’s mining and processing scheme to significantly enhance long-term processing volume capabilities as part of the company’s overall long-term mineral project management strategy. This phase will also focus on completing the groundwork necessary for future expansion capabilities.

Diamcor plans to consolidate its current facilities to further increase throughputs, reduce the overall processing footprint and unit costs, and minimise environmental disturbance. Additional heavy equipment will also be added if required to support these objectives. This overall strategy will be supported by the parallel activities of drilling and bulk sampling of prospective target areas.

The project is not expected to affect the processing efforts currently under way.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Not stated.

Planned Start/End Date
Phase 1 of the project has been completed. The initial upgrades were originally targeted for completion by the end of September 2021.

Latest Developments
Diamcor has noted that its efforts to increase current processing volumes at Krone-Endora at Venetia mine and efficiencies during the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, are continuing, with further results expected during the current quarter.

The reconfiguration and installation of the project’s X-ray diamond sorting units and final recovery systems remained a priority during the quarter and these efforts, along with the installation of additional screening systems now nearing completion, remain on schedule to advance the company’s continued increases in processing volumes.

These accelerated upgrades position the company to take advantage of any potential rough-diamond shortages associated with ongoing international sanctions, which may impact on a significant portion of the world’s rough-diamond supply originating in Russia, Diamcor has said.     

The installation of additional screening equipment to complement the previously completed Phase 1 upgrades and specifically increase efficiencies in the removal of soil and clay fines at the project’s main treatment plant are now nearing completion.

These refinements are expected to be operational before the end of April and to increase current hourly feed rates and processing volumes by about 60%.

Initial revisions to the project’s water recovery systems aimed at supporting additional tonnage have also been completed.

The construction and delivery of a larger, purpose-built water recovery system continues to progress on schedule, with delivery targeted before the end of the current quarter.

All water recovery system additions are designed to, ultimately, lower water consumption on a per-ton basis through improvements in the recovery of wastewater, and provide the potential for further increases to processing volumes moving forward.

In addition to providing the potential to increase processing volumes, the screening upgrades are expected to have the added benefit of lowering the project’s operating costs on a per-ton basis by reducing consumables, owing to added screening efficiencies.

Materials handling and equipment cycle times are also expected to improve.

The collective upgrades completed to date have retained much of their original design and scope to ensure they continue to support the company’s ongoing, larger growth plans.

The installation of the upgrades to date have been completed in conjunction with ongoing processing as envisioned, and have not caused any material disruptions to operations.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Diamcor Mining, tel  +1 250 862 3212 or email info@diamcormining.com.