Polyus completes Verninskoye mill capacity expansion project

The project, which was launched in 4Q19, has been completed ahead of its initial schedule (2H21). The mill has now achieved its target hourly throughput rate of 450 tph, and is currently running at an annualised capacity of 3.5 million tpy.

This upgrade is expected to provide additional 40 000 oz of incremental gold volumes at Verninskoye. Capital expenditures for the project amounted to approximately US$60 million, in line with the initial budget.

Polyus has completed a number of initiatives to upgrade the crushing and grinding circuit at Verninskoye. This included the installation of an additional crushing circuit comprising of a ball mill and two vibrating screens in the extension of the main building. An additional cone crusher and screens were installed to reduce recirculation and increase the throughput capacity of the existing SAG mill. The gravity concentration circuit was equipped with additional centrifugal concentrators and a hydrocyclone unit, which were also installed in the main building extension.

As part of the project, Polyus implemented a number of initiatives aimed at improving recoveries, including the installation of an additional reactivation kiln in the main building extension, as well as installation of an additional centrifugal concentrator in the main building. This resulted in the recovery rate at Verninskoye reaching approximately 90% in February 2021.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/26052021/polyus-completes-verninskoye-mill-capacity-expansion-project/