Name of the Project
Baobab expansion and upgrade project.

Location
The project is located about 145 km east of the Port of Dakar, in Senegal.

Client
Avenira.

Project Description
A 500 000 t/y nameplate-capacity processing plant was commissioned at the Baobab project in August 2016. 

However, the current processing plant design is suboptimal because of the simple wet-screening technique used. 

This has resulted in low product recovery and, therefore, high unit operating costs, making the existing operation financially unsustainable in the current downcycle phosphate rock price environment.

Avenira has received positive conceptual engineering study results, paving the way for a major expansion and upgrade of the Baobab processing plant. 

The expanded and upgraded plant is expected to include new crushing and milling stages, flotation units, magnetic separation and drying steps, and a covered storage area.

The beneficiation process is designed to separate silica and any clays in the ore from the phosphate mineral. 

The plant has been designed to process an estimated 2.4-million tonnes of feed a year with a nominal grade of 20.6% phosphorous pentoxide (P₂O₅) to recover about one-million tonnes of concentrate a year with an estimated grade of 35% P₂O₅.

The process steps include primary and secondary crushing, scrubbing, desliming, sizing, reverse flotation, magnetic separation, dewatering, drying and product storage.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
The capital cost estimate for the expansion and upgrade of the processing plant is $53.4-million.

The processing plant capital cost estimate currently excludes any mobile equipment, mine infrastructure, site buildings or camp, site security and site communication systems.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Avenira expects to conclude an ore reserve estimate in the fourth quarter of 2017 and an engineering and full feasibility study, as well as offtake agreements in the first quarter of 2018.

A funding and final investment decision is expected in the second quarter of 2018.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Hatch (engineering study).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Avenira, tel +61 8 9264 7000 or email frontdesk@avenira.com.