Name and Location
Moma titanium mine expansion, Mozambique.

Client
Kenmare Resources.

Project Description
The project involves increasing the Moma mine's production by about 50% to about 1.2-million tons a year of ilmenite and associated products.

Value
The costs associated with the Moma titanium minerals mine expansion have been revised upwards to $350-million from an earlier estimate of $300-million.

Duration
Commissioning of the expansion project is expected by the end of 2012. Subsequent ramp-up in operations will enable full production from the expanded facilities during 2013 to take advantage of the prevailing robust market.

The feasibility study for the Phase 3 expansion is expected to be completed in 2012.

Latest Developments
The expansion of the facilities at Moma, which will increase production capacity by 50%, is currently in the commissioning phase.

Water has been pumped into the new dredge pond and the new dredge and wet concentrator plant (WCP) B are floating. WCP B has been moored at the side of the pond, where it is now lying against a wharf that allows easy access for commissioning and final pipe fitting by crews.

The wet high-intensity magnetic separation plant is being commissioned concurrently, with the fitting of the final pipes, which were late in arriving at site and the auxiliary ilmenite plant is in commissioning.

The main structural, mechanical, plate and piping subcontractor, Cosira, has demobilised from site and final work is being performed by Kentz.

The commissioning programme runs through several phases, culminating in hot commissioning when feed is put through the plant. This is scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2013 and marks the start of the ramp-up of the new facilities.

The profile of a ramp-up is by nature uncertain and, as a result, Kenmare has made robust preparations for this phase – a very experienced commissioning and ramp-up team is in place and an extensive operator training programme has been ongoing for several months. The company aims to have the new facilities ramped up by the end of this year.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
E+PC (engineering, procurement and construction management contract).

On Budget and on Time?
The project was delayed into the second half of 2012. The costs associated with the expansion project have risen, as a result of dimensional inaccuracies in structural steel sections delivered to site. The modifications to repair these inaccuracies and the additional resources brought to the site to enable completion by the end of this year have also impacted on costs.

Contact Details for Project Information
Kenmare Resources, tel +258 21 494921 or +258 21 499701, fax +258 21 499731 or email kenmaremaputo@intra.co.mz.
Brunswick South Africa, on behalf of the Aveng Group, tel +27 11 502 7300 or fax +27 11 268 5747.
E+PC, tel +27 10 205 1000 or fax +27 87 807 0143.