Construction of the pilot plant for Savannah Resources’ bulk metallurgical test work programme at the Mutamba mineral sands project in Mozambique, is now complete.
The construction of the project’s 20 tph pilot plant is complete and commissioning is now underway. The pilot plant will produce bulk samples of concentrate for metallurgical and product test work.
Test work to act as proof-of-concept for future development model – currently targeting first production in 2020 with estimated average annual production of 456 000 t of ilmenite and 118 000 t of non-magnetic concentrate over a 30-year life of mine.
Commissioning is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. The commissioning process is expected to take around four weeks to complete and includes three stages: water commissioning, sand commissioning, and ore commissioning.
David Archer, Savannah’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to announce that the pilot plant construction is now complete, and commissioning is well underway in anticipation of an official opening in December. The pilot plant construction work has been completed on time and on budget and maintains the Consortium’s fastpaced approach towards the Project including the delivery of a Scoping Study earlier this year.”
“Upon completion of commissioning, the plant will provide concentrate bulk samples for analysis and the preparation of final products for test marketing. The completion of the plant is another key milestone for the Mutamba Consortium as we move the Project towards a development decision,” he added. “In the meantime, the overall market setting for TiO2 feedstocks continues to improve and new supply of TiO2