Indo Mines: Engineering design for RI pig iron project to be completed in May
Monday, April 27 2015 - 12:53 AM WIB
ASX-listed Indo Mines Limited said that the basic engineering design (BED) of a beneficiation plant to be developed at the company?s pig iron project in Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta, is expected to be completed in May.
The company has engaged Ferrostaal Indonesia to carry out the BED, which forms part of phase I of the definitive feasibility study of the pig iron project.
?It is anticipated the beneficiation plant BED will be completed by May 2015. This is a key element for the BED of the iron plant - as concentrate produced by the beneficiation plant over the ?life of mine? must be consistent in terms of its? chemical and physical properties, such as iron, silica and phosphorous content,? Indomines said in a quarterly report published Monday.
The company further said that after significant test work carried out by MBE labs in Germany and CRL in New Zealand, a process flow diagram (PFD) has been agreed by all parties. This PFD is based on a 1 stage rougher magnetic separator (LIMS is acronym for Lower Intensity Magnetic Separators), followed by a 3 stage lower gauss ?cleaner? magnetic separators. To grind the raw material to an optimal level of magnetic iron liberalisation, a ball mill and vertimill configuration is utilised to achieve a 45 micron sizing.
Taking the average iron grade of the deposit (13.6% Fe) as head feed, the PFD is able to achieve a 12% yield, which is better than initially modelled. This is based on producing a concentrate between 58% - 59% Fe, with acceptable silica and phosphorous content. Obviously the yield will depend on head feed grade, but plant capacity is based on a head feed grade as low as 9%, as Fe grade quality over life of project will vary ? the ability for the plant to adjust according to the head feed grade, but still produce consistent concentrate for iron plant is critical for project success.
In October 2014, the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) issued an export permit to PT Jogja Magasa Iron (JMI), Indo Mines 70 percent owned subsidiary, to send iron sand concentrate to Germany for test work.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak