Name and Location
Letlhakane mine tailings resource treatment project (LMTRTP), Francistown, Botswana.

Client
Debswana, a 50:50 joint venture between the Botswana government and De Beers.

Project Description
The diamond pits at the Letlhakane mine have reached depths that limit conventional openpit mining; however, the LMTRTP, which will retreat tailings, is expected to extend the mine’s life by an additional 20 years and safeguard jobs at the mine.

The project entails the construction of a treatment plant, a 66 kV power line and other infrastructure and services.

The LMTRTP is expected to produce 800 000 ct/y of diamonds.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
P2.2-billion.

Duration
Construction of the project started in the first quarter of 2015 and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year, followed by commissioning, with handover expected by September 2017.

Latest Developments
Rockwell Automation has been awarded the contract to supply low- and medium-voltage equipment and automation solutions for the LMTRTP.

The company will install several low- and medium-voltage variable-speed drives in the plant’s ehouses to drive various pumps, belt feeders and crusher units, and mineral processing equipment.

Further, Rockwell has proposed a mining solution that combines plantwide control technologies and unmatched scalability.

This will be achieved by using the company’s integrated architecture with all the core capabilities of a world-class distributed control system using the Internet of Things.

This is to achieve a complete connected enterprise providing a digital dashboard for the process control.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Rockwell Automation (low- and medium-voltage equipment and automation solutions).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Debswana – Letlhakane mine, tel +267 297 0201 or fax +267 297 0243.
Cubic Ice on behalf of Rockwell Automation, Rema Hattingh, tel +27 11 705 2545 or email remah@cubicice.com.