African-focused mining and development company, Marula Mining has revised its development and production plans for the Kinusi Copper Mine in central Tanzania.
The updated mine development plan involves a large conventional open pit mine development and a two-phase processing operation comprising initially a gravity concentrate, coarse jigging, and fines dewatering circuit to produce 24,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of high-grade copper concentrate.
It said the estimated capital costs for the first phase of gravity concentrate, coarse jigging and fines dewatering circuit based on the quotes received is about £1.4 million, which will be funded from the subscription agreement entered into with AUO Commercial Brokerage this year.
The second phase will incorporate a hydrometallurgy fines-optimised heap leaching circuit, a copper solvent extraction, and an electrowinning refining process to produce an initial 10,200 tpa of copper cathode.
Meanwhile, Marula said open pit mine planning and initial mining activities will begin in the fourth quarter of 2024, with high-grade copper ore to be stockpiled ahead of the commissioning of the first phase of the gravity concentrate coarse jigging and fines dewatering circuit.
High-grade copper concentrate production is now planned to commence in the first quarter of 2025, with first export sales to be completed late in the quarter.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief, Rough&Polished
