Business / Companies
Blanket Mine commissions underground expansion project
25 Oct 2010 at 09:29hrs | Views
#000000" face="'Times New Roman'">Blanket Mine has commissioned the No 4 Shaft expansion project. The mine in Gwanda is owned by Canadian-based Caledonia Mining Corporation and is the largest gold mine in Matabeleland South.
In a statement, Caledonia Mining president and chief executive officer Mr Stefan Hayden said the commissioning of the underground crushing station and automated shaft bottom loading system would boost mining operations and increase gold production at Blanket Mine.
"This is a very important milestone in the development of Blanket Mine which was designed and completed in-house and within budget, thanks to the excellent work by the management teams and staff at both Caledonia and Blanket. I now look forward to Blanket achieving its target rate of production of 40 000 ounces of gold per annum before the end of the year," he said.
Mr Hayden said the development would remove the need to multiple-handle ore before being hauled to surface, with a resultant improvement in efficiency and reduction in costs.
Mr Hayden said Blanket Mine had commenced the ramp-up in production to a target rate of 1 000 tonnes per day that is expected to produce about 40 000 ounces of gold annually.
Gold production at Blanket Mine had been adversely affected by the increased frequency and duration of power outages.
"This ramp-up is planned to be completed by the end of December 2010, but gold production will remain subject to the availability of sufficient electrical power which is essential if the metallurgical plant is to process this volume of ore."
He said the mine planned to install three additional 2 500 kVA diesel generators before the end of the year to ensure the company continues with its underground and surface operations during power interruptions.Blanket mine has mineral reserves of 3,4 million tonnes.
For the year ended 31 December 2009, Caledonia realised an average price of US$962 per ounce for gold sold, and US$1 108 per ounce in the quarter ended 31 December 2009.
In a statement, Caledonia Mining president and chief executive officer Mr Stefan Hayden said the commissioning of the underground crushing station and automated shaft bottom loading system would boost mining operations and increase gold production at Blanket Mine.
"This is a very important milestone in the development of Blanket Mine which was designed and completed in-house and within budget, thanks to the excellent work by the management teams and staff at both Caledonia and Blanket. I now look forward to Blanket achieving its target rate of production of 40 000 ounces of gold per annum before the end of the year," he said.
Mr Hayden said the development would remove the need to multiple-handle ore before being hauled to surface, with a resultant improvement in efficiency and reduction in costs.
Mr Hayden said Blanket Mine had commenced the ramp-up in production to a target rate of 1 000 tonnes per day that is expected to produce about 40 000 ounces of gold annually.
Gold production at Blanket Mine had been adversely affected by the increased frequency and duration of power outages.
"This ramp-up is planned to be completed by the end of December 2010, but gold production will remain subject to the availability of sufficient electrical power which is essential if the metallurgical plant is to process this volume of ore."
He said the mine planned to install three additional 2 500 kVA diesel generators before the end of the year to ensure the company continues with its underground and surface operations during power interruptions.Blanket mine has mineral reserves of 3,4 million tonnes.
For the year ended 31 December 2009, Caledonia realised an average price of US$962 per ounce for gold sold, and US$1 108 per ounce in the quarter ended 31 December 2009.
Source - Caledonia Mine
