Adaro's overburden removal system by FLSmidth to operate next year

By Er Audy Zandri

IDX-listed Adaro Energy is expected to have its mechanized overburden removal system start operating in the middle of next year, FLSmidth Business Development Manager Michael Ingwersen told Petromindo.com at the sidelines of today's International IPCC 2012 in Bali.

Construction is underway, the result of a contract signed some two years ago with FLSmidth, a US-based world leading bulk material handling technology designer and supplier, to assist with overburden removal at its Tutupan open pit mine, marking Adaro's first venture into mechanized mining system.

The proposed system, at a rated capacity of 12,000 tons per hour, will account for some 10 percent of total overburden production, which Adaro plans to increase to 40 percent or higher in the long term.

Supply includes four units of FLSmidth RAHCO overland conveyors at total length of 10km having capacity of 12,000 t/h, a unit of FLSmidth RAHCO mobile stacking conveyor at the length of 411m of 12,000 t/h capacity, a unit of FLSmidth RAHCO spreading conveyor with 50m boom of 12,500 t/h capacity, two ABON 13/300 CCTD sizers with two 335KW drives with 6,000 t/h capacity each, in addition to two units of FLSmidth apron feeders with 6,000 t/h capacity each.

"Construction of a crushing terminal is underway, while the stacking conveyor base is already completed. Construction should all be completed on May next year, followed by three months of trial run," he said, adding that once in operation, the system should be able to save Adaro US$1.24 per billion cubic meter, cutting the trucking distance between 6km to 7km by some 4km for overburden dumping, significantly reducing their truck maintenance cost.

Editing by David Mustakim