Metro Mining reaches commission stage at Bauxite Hills

29th November 2017 By: Megan van Wyngaardt - Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Metro Mining on Wednesday reported that all major marine infrastructure at its Bauxite Hills mine had reached practical completion including the barge loading facility (BLF), marine offloading facility, cyclone moorings, navigational aids and tidal gauge.

The project is within budget and on time.

The BLF was recently wet commissioned with first product being loaded onto the conveyor system and into a barge. The commissioning was a success with the BLF construction completed in only five months.

In the lead-up to production, Metro will also commission the product sampling station and on-belt analyser, which are used to support mining operations, specifically quality control.

“[This was] a fantastic effort to get the major items of infrastructure complete, and commissioned, in this timeframe. A special thanks must go to Transhipment Services Australia, who were the project managers for the BLF and marine infrastructure, for a job well done.

“We are becoming increasingly excited about next year, and are confident we will be in production, as we have promised, early in the second quarter of 2018,” Metro Mining MD Simon Finnis said.

The company added that the camp, fuel farm and other infrastructure remained on track for completion by the end of the year.