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The Altura lithium project’s plant development nearing completion

 

Published by
Global Mining Review,

The construction and development of Altura Mining Ltd’s Altura lithium project is nearing completion and remains on track for commissioning in 1Q18 and product sales in 2Q18.

Civil works on the project have reached practical completion, with a total of 6800 m3 of concrete being poured over the last six months.

The crushing and screening plant is largely complete, with commissioning expected once the main power plant is operational in early March. Dense Media Separation (DMS) modules 1 and 2 are complete from a structural and mechanical perspective, with piping works underway, whilst the High Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR) motors and gearboxes have been installed and aligned, with work now progressing on the hydraulic system.

Construction of the ROM wall has been completed and a practical completion status has been issued on the tailings storage facility (TSF). The Mine Operations Centre is also fully operational with both Altura and NRW employees working from the building.

After a careful market investigation, the board of Altura has approved an owner/operator model for the processing plant. This owner/operator model will allow Altura to manage and control this vital step in the delivery of an optimal product to the market, and has indicated cost benefits to the company as compared with other models reviewed as part of the investigation. Key staff have already been recruited and a recruiting campaign has commenced for the remainder of staff who will be required towards the end of February.

Altura Managing Director James Brown said: “The board and management of Altura outlined an aggressive timetable when we broke ground in March last year on the Altura lithium project, to place the company in a position to become the first major producer in 2018. The work completed since then has been outstanding and to be nearing completion on the mine site within this specified targeted date keeps Altura firmly on track to start commissioning in Q1 2018, with product sales to commence in Q2 2018.”