Name and Location
Mopani synclinorium shaft project, Kitwe, Zambia.

Client
Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), which is owned by Carlisa Investments Corporation, a joint venture registered in Zambia comprising GlencoreXsrata (73.1%), First Quantum Minerals (16.9%) and ZCCM Investment Holdings (10%).

Project Description
The Mopani synclinorium shaft project will establish a hoisting and ventilation facility to extract copper ore from the Nkana orebody, which forms part of the MCM complex, in Kitwe.

The shaft-sinking project is aimed at extending the life of the mine by a further 30 years – beyond the expected depletion dates of the existing Mindola North, South Ore Body (SOB) and Central shaft reserves of 2015, 2017 and 2018 respectively.

The new shaft will provide Mopani with access to an estimated 115-million tons of ore at a grade of 1.9% copper and 0.09% cobalt.

The project includes the construction of a 7-m-diameter main shaft and a 6-m-diameter ventilation shaft to depths of 1 277 m and 1 167 m respectively.

The new shaft will allow for ore production at the Nkana mines to be maintained above four-million tonnes a year by 2017 and increase the life-of-mine by 25 years.

The new shaft will provide Mopani with access to about 115-million tonnes of ore at a grade of 1.9% copper and 0.09% cobalt.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
MCM has completed the installation of a 26.5 t permanent multirope winder, replacing a temporary 12 t sinking winder.

MCM CEO Danny Callow says the installation marks an important step towards completion of shaft construction.

“This was a mammoth task that has been executed diligently, professionally, on schedule and within budget. We are currently cold commissioning the winder and are quite happy with what we have seen so far, though full functioning of the winder is dependent on the completion of the main shaft,” he comments.

Callow adds that the company is conducting civil and other construction works at the loading station, located 1 234 m below ground, while mining development from the SOB to the Synclinorium shaft is in progress.

With regard to the mine’s horizontal development underground, so far, the company has developed the incline to the new crusher, the conveyor drive to the Synclinorium shaft and the decline to the shaft bottom.

Meanwhile, MCM has less than 10 m before reaching the bottom of the shaft. It will then start equipping the shaft from the bottom-up before the end of 2014. This will take another year to complete.

Preparations for the installation of a 64-m-high permanent headgear for the Synclinorium shaft are, meanwhile, well advanced and the company says it will soon receive the headgear structure from the manufacturers.

Preparatory works for the ventilation shaft’s raiseboring are ongoing, with the RedBore100 machine – one of the largest raisebore machines in the world and the largest ever to be operated in Zambia – being assembled for start of piloting and the raiseboring of the first leg.

The ventilation shaft has, meanwhile, been presunk to a depth of 50 m below surface.

The 6.1 m ventilation shaft will lie adjacent to the main shaft, be raisebored to a depth of 1 167 m and will serve as a lifeline for the main shaft. It will supply fresh refrigerated air to working areas underground.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Redpath (drilling).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
MCM, tel +260 1 221023, fax +260 1 221057 or email mcorporate@zccm-ih.com.zm.