JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Berkeley Mineral Resources (BMR) says it is making good progress towards production of lead, zinc and copper from tailings at its Kabwe project, in Zambia, following the receipt of project approval from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (Zema) in August.

During the assessment by Zema of BMR’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Enviro Processing (EPL), EPL was temporarily prevented from carrying out any further technical testwork at its Kabwe site.

It did, however, continue to conduct metallurgical studies and test alternative gravitational solutions, with all work conducted off-site.

It also commissioned a desktop study of leaching solutions for processing the wash plant and leach plant tailings.

The company said on Monday that, since receipt of the Zema approval, EPL had continued its testwork programme, evaluated the results of the desktop study and expected to receive, within the next month, a revised simplified flow sheet for the definitive feasibility study (DFS).

The simplification of the gravity flow sheet was expected to provide a more robust and manageable process that should enhance the economic returns reported in the DFS.

“We remain clearly focused on reaching the position where we can order, install and put into operation the lead and zinc wash plant tailings processing plant, which will maximise BMR's returns. 

“Since receiving the Zema approval, we have commissioned the final studies and put in place the management resources to achieve this aim in the shortest possible time,” commented chairperson Masoud Alikhani.

Meanwhile, following successful proof-of-concept trials, which resulted in the production of 92% grade cement from EPL's Kabwe copper plant, in February, further work was halted pending the Zema decision.

EPL had received and was reviewing a proposal for supplies of copper feedstock concentrate, which would call for substantial expansion of this facility.

Additionally, BMR was reviewing proposals it had received from interested parties for cofinancing the project.