Wetar copper expansion project heading towards commissioning

By Ruli Setiawan

ASX-listed Finders Resources announced on Friday that construction progress on the 25,000 ton per annum (tpa) SX-EW plant at its Wetar copper project in Maluku province advanced towards commissioning with first copper cathode production expected in the second quarter of 2016

Construction progress during the quarter was hampered slightly by the wet season with the majority of the wet weather dissipating by quarter end.

Earthworks were completed on Storm Water Pond Three and the pond was ready for lining. This is the last major pond construction required at the site with only small SX-EW raw water and solution ponds remaining.

The KKV leach pad construction advanced with Cell 4 now in the process of being lined in preparation for placement of the limestone bedding layer.

Construction of the 25kt neutralization plant is well advanced with the majority of the tanks nearing completion and the arrival of the lime mill on site.

Structural, mechanical and piping work was the focus of the quarter with good progress achieved. Electrical works, including cable rack installation and cable running was well advanced behind the structural work.

High voltage powerlines and buried cable from the coastal power station up to the new 25,000 tpa SX-EW plant were completed and energized.

Raw water supply pipelines and transfer stations were also completed from the Lurang River intake up to the 25,000 tpa SX-EW plant.

Two new fuel storage tanks were completed and the piping connection to the power station is being undertaken. A final inspection for the operating permit is imminent.

The commissioning of the expansion project has commenced with completed areas being dry commissioned as available. Commissioning will continue through to copper metal production during the June quarter.

Finders is developing a 25,000 tpa copper cathode SX-EW plant as part of the expansion of its copper project on Wetar Island. Finders owns 95 percent of the Wetar Copper Project, which comprises the development, mining and processing of sulphide copper deposits at Kali Kuning and Lerokis on Wetar Island.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon