Sumatra: Output shortfall at Belinau open pit, revises underground mine plan
Monday, February 27 2017 - 01:13 AM WIB
Courtesy of Sumatra Copper
ASX-listed Sumatra Copper & Gold plc unveiled Monday the following production update from its Tembang gold-silver operation located in southern Sumatra.
During dewatering of the former Berenai open pit, the pre-2007 survey of the pit surface has been found to be inaccurate and appears to include portions of backfilled and rilled material resulting in a shortfall of ore scheduled to be mined from Berenai during the current quarter. Whilst this issue only affects a small percentage of the overall Ore Reserve at the boundaries of the former pit and planned pit, it has a significant impact (approximately 3,000 oz AuEq1 in-situ) on open pit production during the current quarter as mine development advances through this material.
To mitigate the open pit shortfall, the Belinau underground mine will commence the stoping panel from Level 9, instead of the planned Level 11, in order to bring forward low cost stope ore. The revised mine plan will require a sill pillar below Level 9 and an extra sublevel to be developed during 2018, and will allow the recovery of approximately 90 percent of the sill pillar at the end of the Belinau mine life to minimize ore loss.
Production guidance for 2017 remains unchanged at between 45,000 and 55,000 oz AuEq. A comprehensive production update will be provided in the March 2017 quarterly report.
According to company website, the open pit mining commenced in July 2015 with free dig material from the Buluh, Siamang, Bujang and Berenai open pits to provide low grade material for mill commissioning. Pit dewatering at Belinau and Bujang was completed in September and dewatering of Berenai continued while mining was conducted above the waterline. The Asmar open pit was progressively introduced to the run-of-mine feed in late 2015. Decline development at the Belinau underground mine commenced in September 2015.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak