Khoemacau Copper Mines on June 30 achieved a milestone at its Khoemacau copper/silver project, in Botswana, with the production of the first copper/silver concentrate from its Boseto process plant.
This milestone was achieved safely, within schedule and the overall project remains within 3% of the original budget, the company acclaims.
The first shipment of concentrate is scheduled for this month.
Since underground development of Khoemacau’s Zone 5 Mine began in early 2020, more than 350 000 t of high-grade sulphide ore has been stockpiled on surface and is available to feed the facility.
The ore is transported 35 km from the mechanised Zone 5 underground mine to the processing facility via a sealed haul road.
The company expects to ramp up to full production throughout the rest of this year.
The project has the capacity to produce 155 000 t to 165 000 t of high-grade copper and silver concentrate a year, containing about 60 000 t to 65 000 t of payable copper and 1.8-million to 2-million ounces of payable silver.
The company expects to achieve this production rate in 2022.
“We are delighted to have reached this important milestone safely, on schedule and substantially within budget, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the Khoemacau team and our business partners. This is particularly remarkable against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic over the last 16 months,” CEO Johan Ferreira acclaims.
Botswana Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Minister Lefoko Moagi enthuses that, through foreign direct investment, Khoemacau will strengthen Botswana’s mining industry.
“The Khoemacau starter project coming on stream shall unlock the potential of the Kalahari copper belt and stimulate confidence in Botswana’s mining industry, for both greenfield and brownfield projects,” he says.