South Africa-based engineering and project delivery specialist DRA has been awarded the implementation phase of the openpit Elandsfontein phosphate project, on the West Coast of South Africa, by exploration company Elandsfontein Exploration and Mining.
The engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract awarded to DRA follows the completion of the project’s definitive feasibility study by DRA.
DRA’s in-house mining division carried out the design and production scheduling for the openpit mining operation, which will be contracted out by Elandsfontein.
A major component of the scope of the EPCM project will relate to the mine’s processing facility and its associated infrastructure, designed to produce 1.35-million tons a year of phosphate concentrate.
Included in the process plant will be screening, classification, milling, reverse flotation, dewatering and product handling. Tailings will be dewatered by belt filter prior to dry stacking.
“We are pleased and proud to be awarded the Elandsfontein phosphate project. The award follows more than 15 months of working closely with the Elandsfontein team on the study of the project, during which a range of testwork and trials were carried out to develop the optimum flowsheet,” says DRA Group CEO Paul Thomson.
He adds that this is a unique project for South Africa as it is the first sedimentary type phosphate project carried out in the country “as opposed to igneous phosphate”.
This is also the first phosphate project awarded to DRA in its 30-year history, which Thomson says, “demonstrates [DRA’s] versatility in minerals processing and successful project delivery”.
He further states that the project award is also a testament to the ability of DRA’s study teams to solve technical challenges in close cooperation with its clients.
The project will be managed from DRA’s Cape Town office, with commissioning expected to take place in August 2016.