Aim-listed Zanaga Iron Ore Company (ZIOC) has provided an update on the bulk sampling programme at its Zanaga project in Congo-Brazzaville.

As part of the programme, about 30 000 t of ore is being extracted to assemble a 100 t composite sample of the hematite zone targeted for Stage 1’s 12-million-tonne-a-year operations.

This 100 t sample will be sent for subsequent metallurgical testing in order to conduct pilot scale testwork to confirm the project’s revised direct reduced iron (DRI) processing flowsheet at a larger scale and provide adequate quantities of concentrates for specification characterisation, process engineering design and product testing with steel mill customers, independent laboratories and offtakers.

This programme marks the first major equipment mobilisation at the project site since 2014 and is an important activity towards completing the front-end engineering design (FEED) programme and progressing to a final investment decision and full project construction.

ZIOC notes that mobilisation of equipment and personnel began in July involving a prominent locally-based civil earthworks contractor, following deployment of proceeds from the company's May equity raise.

The company says excavation continues in accordance with the required environmental and mining permits, following the mandated state and community consultation processes.

Composite samples from the principal hematite ore types will provide an advanced view of process feed for the first five to ten years of Stage 1 operations.

The company says samples will support metallurgical testwork and pilot-scale validation of Zanaga's revised DRI processing flowsheet, including concentrate specification characterisation and customer testing.

ZIOC explains that the bulk sampling programme is critical to enabling a large-scale pilot testwork programme to be completed as it establishes appropriate crushing, grinding and screening configuration for the proposed Stage 1 processing plant and enables large scale product testing to be launched with steel mill customers and independent laboratories and offtakers.

The bulk sampling programme comprises site preparation, excavation, sample extraction and compositing and comprehensive material characterisation.

ZIOC says successful permitting consultations were completed with stakeholder ministries, prefecture, project communities and traditional custodians, in accordance with the appropriate permits granted by the respective Ministries of Environment and Mining Industries and Geology.

The bulk sampling and associated metallurgical test programme are expected to support a revised Stage 1 base case processing flowsheet targeting a DRI-specification product; the definition of primary and secondary process equipment; updated mass, energy and water balances; and the definitive basis for process capital and operating cost estimates, together with the original-equipment manufacturer and constructor enquiry, which will be completed during the FEED programme.                                                 

The company says it considers this programme to be a critical step in progressing Zanaga's Stage 1 development and strengthening the technical basis for future strategic investment and partnership discussions.

“Having spent significant time in country and on site over recent months, I’ve been highly encouraged by the progress our project team is making with the bulk sampling programme, which remains on schedule.

“This programme is aimed at enabling us to define the revised Stage 1 base case flowsheet targeting a DRI-specification product, while further informing the inputs required to definitively map the pathway to mine construction and production.

“I look forward to updating our stakeholders as the programme progresses,” says ZIOC CEO Martin Knauth.