Photo by: Reuters
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diamond miner Kimberley Diamonds has taken the first step in recommissioning the Lerala diamond mine, in Botswana, with the appointment of Consulmet to undertake detailing and design work to modify the plant.
Kimberley is looking to modify the Lerala plant to enable it to reliably treat some 200 t/y of ore, and has engaged Consulmet to undertake the detailing and design work for this modification.
In June this year, Kimberley approved A$14.7-million to recommission the Lerala diamond project, which the previous owner, Mantle Diamonds, placed on care and maintenance in 2012.
The company was targeting the restart of mining operations at Lerala in the fourth quarter of 2015, following the approval of the environmental-impact assessment and the completion of recommissioning work at the plant.
Once in production, Lerala would produce some 1.4-million tonnes of ore a year, producing an average of 375 000 ct a year over a seven-year mine-life.