TAKRAF Australia: growing from strength-to-strength

TAKRAF Group project highlights in Australia. Image: TAKRAF Group

TAKRAF Group is one of Australia’s leading OEM (original equipment manufacturer) suppliers of new machines and equipment to the mining and resources industry. The Group also boasts an in-house capability to provide comprehensive aftermarket and maintenance support for its own and other OEM equipment.

With Australia’s mining and resources industry seeking to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability and social responsibility, TAKRAF Group is ideally positioned to support the local industry in the next stage of development of this ever evolving and dynamic sector.

Through its long and distinguished history in Australia, TAKRAF Group has developed an innate understanding of local mining conditions, standards and requirements, enabling its Australian offices to provide its clients with the most suitable solutions to their unique project requirements.

As a result, the Group boasts an extensive and increasing reference list of projects in Australia, covering both TAKRAF and DELKOR technologies.

Its reputation as the world’s leading technology provider in run-of-mine and bulk material handling has meant that its TAKRAF brand portfolio is in considerable demand from Australian operations, from its technologies for overburden removal and raw material extraction through processing to ship loading.

Recent project examples include the supply of a rail-mounted, slewing and luffing stacker for an important bulk export terminal. This machine, with its 62-metre curved boom is one of the largest and technically advanced globally.

A TAKRAF double jib level luffing ship unloader replaced two existing machines at an important deep-water port on the Australian east coast, enhancing the capability of the port in handling a range of commodities.

Other TAKRAF equipment currently in operation at Australian mines and ports ranges from semi-mobile crushing plants to bridge-type bucket-wheel reclaimers, stackers and trippers, radial stackers and portal scraper reclaimers.

The DELKOR liquid/solid separation range of technologies is also seeing increasing application in Australia, and globally, for their ability to enable the optimum recovery and recycling of water, reducing freshwater intake into the plant and enhancing environmental sustainability.

DELKOR dewatering equipment, such as its high-rate and high-density thickeners, are specifically designed for the needs of the mining industry and the ongoing transition from wet to dry tailings deposits.

In a recent order, TAKRAF successfully commissioned a 30m diameter DELKOR tailings thickener for a plant in Australia.

DELKOR has also provided four of the largest DELKOR belt linear screens (40 square metres) available globally to a gold mine in Australia, while its new generation BQR flotation cells, equipped with the MAXGen mechanism, have found wide acceptance in the country, with orders coming from several gold mines to a nickel restart project.

TAKRAF Australia’s countrywide presence includes office representation in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth, close to its clients’ registered offices; as well as smaller satellite offices close to its clients’ operations to support them in their day-to-day operational requirements.

Such long experience, combined with the wide extent of its network, has enabled TAKRAF Australia to establish strong working relationships with some of the largest diversified mining companies, as well with the smaller mid-tier and junior players.

In addition, its services, both technology supply and aftermarket support, are enhanced by solid partnerships with local Australian suppliers.

TAKRAF is one of the largest and most experienced full-service suppliers of mining industry equipment, supporting not only its own machines over their full product lifecycle, but also that supplied by other OEMs.

Given the importance of quickly identifying and solving issues before problems occur, TAKRAF Australia’s satellite offices are conveniently located to timeously and efficiently provide customised maintenance solutions.

These solutions range from continuous condition monitoring through regular inspections, spare parts supply, on-site repair support and stock management, to site assistance for troubleshooting and major repairs including complete refurbishments as an alternative to purchasing new equipment, as well as equipment relocation.

“Worldwide, the resource industry is facing complicated challenges in transforming towards a sustainable future,” TAKRAF Australia managing director Ivan Agostini said.

“As a result, TAKRAF Group focuses on areas that are critical for reliable and sustainable operations, providing innovative solutions that save energy, lower environmental impact and meet or exceed operational requirements.

“This, together with our commitment to innovation and technology development, means that we are well placed to support our clients in Australia towards the next significant step in our industry’s move towards greater environmental sustainability – an area in which the combined strengths of our TAKRAF and DELKOR portfolio will provide for fully integrated solutions that make the difference.

“Furthermore, we believe that our commitment to fostering collaboration between owners, operators and original equipment providers is the best approach in building systems that exert real savings on energy and water consumption.”

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AVL advances new vanadium plant

KELSIE TIBBEN

Image: alexlmx/adobe.stock.com

Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) has locked in key mining areas and a location for its downstream processing plant as the company moves closer to production.

AVL has finished the first phase of an optimised feasibility study (OFS), which was launched following the completion of AVL’s merger with Technology Metals Australia (TMT).

The study aimed to consolidate the companies’ adjoining projects into one orebody.

The Australian Vanadium project includes a vanadium mine and a crushing, milling and beneficiation plant located at Gabanintha near Meekatharra in WA, where the mining and upstream processing of vanadium bearing magnetite ore is proposed to be undertaken.

The next phase of the study will focus on finalising a detailed mining plan and optimisation of the plant and infrastructure.

“By focusing on the most promising sections of the orebody and conducting a comprehensive analysis to select the optimal location for the downstream processing plant, we have now finalised the key foundations from which the remaining OFS activities can fully define a ‘stronger for longer’ version of the project which has been unlocked through the recent merger,” AVL chief executive officer Graham Arvidson said.

In parallel to ongoing OFS works, Arvidson said AVL continues to assess opportunities for grant funding provided by the Australian Government.

The funds provide AVL options for activities such as detailed engineering and the acceleration of project schedule by proceeding with long lead equipment orders.

“Timely delivery of the project is a key objective for the company in anticipation of growing demand for vanadium flow batteries, which will cornerstone the essential long duration energy requirements of the net-zero carbon energy transition,” Arvidson said.

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True North’s Cloncurry commences operations

OLIVIA THOMSON

Overlooking the Great Australia mine within the Cloncurry project. Image: True North Copper

True North Copper (TNC) has commenced clearing activities and blast hole drilling at the Wallace North deposit that sits within the Cloncurry copper project (CCP) in north-west Queensland.

TNC’s personnel is set operate the dry hire equipment at Wallace North, most of which is already on-site. The company is currently recruiting for the operations team, which is close to finalisation, with a supportive technical team already in place for when mining begins.

Dewatering of Wallace North’s pit area is already well advanced, with all blast hole drilling expected to be in dry holes.

Leading TNC during this next phase of operations is newly appointed managing director Bevan Jones, who commenced his role on June 10.

“We have commenced mining operations at Wallace North, which will allow our CCP to restart copper production,” Jones said.

“This has been our major goal since listing on the ASX (in June 2023). I thank our team for their efforts in moving towards this goal to allow TNC to become Australia’s next copper and critical metals producer.”

The mining ramp-up at Wallace North will initially build ore stockpiles, with road haulage expected to start within a few weeks of start-up.

Oxide ore will be transported by road train to True North’s Cloncurry heap leach. Sulphide ore will then be transferred to a nearby concentrator for toll treatment under True North’s toll-milling agreement with Glencore.

“CCP is estimated to deliver free cash flow of about $200 million at current prices over its 4.6-year initial mine life, based on existing JORC reserves,” Jones said.

“Cash flow from mining will be used to explore further opportunities to build this inventory.”

Wallace North is one of four open-pit deposits that makes up Cloncurry. The deposit currently holds an ore reserve totalling 0.7 million tonnes (probable) grading 1.01 per cent copper and 0.46 grams per tonne gold for 6800 tonnes of copper and 10,000 ounces of gold.

An upgrade for Mt Ida gold

ALEXANDRA EASTWOOD

Image: Phawat/Shutterstock.com

Delta Lithium (18 RICHARDSON STREET, WEST PERTH Western)has upgraded the mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Mt Ida project in Western Australia.

The miner described the MRE upgrade as “major” as it represents an 82 per cent increase in contained gold at the project.

“This is a wonderful result for Delta shareholders, reaffirming our long-held belief that the gold system at Mt Ida has significant scale and upside,” Delta Lithium managing director James Croser said.

“The Baldock is fast becoming one of the very few, large high-grade undeveloped gold deposits in WA in excess of 500,000 ounces.”

Mining approval has already been granted for Phase 1 open pit mining at Mt Ida, with significant potential for further resource growth now being tested as drilling gets underway.

“The commencement of open pit mining has been approved, and the underground approval with the department is submitted and pending,” Croser said.

“We are investigating the best options for Delta shareholders to crystallise value from our gold, which can then be applied to further developing our core lithium business.

“The efforts of Delta’s geology team have been tireless and driven toward this success. We have already started follow up gold drilling at Mt Ida to target resource growth beyond one million ounces.”

Holcim announce ‘transformative’ AI plan

ADAM DAUNT

Holcim will expand its usage of AI technology. Image: Holcim

Holcim will use artificial intelligence to include more than 100 plants worldwide over the next four years under a new plan announced recently.

The announcement is an expansion of the company’s current use of artificial intelligence, which has already been deployed in 45 plants. The technology is used to predict and prevent failures as part of the company’s approach to preventive maintenance. The inclusion of AI technology is part of Holcim’s Plants of Tomorrow program, which involves over 140 integrated plants and grinding stations across more than 40 countries.

The new plan will see Holcim roll out its AI preventative maintenance solution and pilot a generative AI program. The solution was developed in collaboration with C3 AI, which is a well-known AI software provider.

“AI is a transformative technology that will revolutionise our industry,” Holcim chief executive officer Miljan Gutovic said.

The company will continue to upskill its maintenance teams to use the AI technology to carry out asset management and optimisation in real time.

Overall, Holcim has AI initiatives in several other areas including product quality and process optimisation to autonomous vehicles and computer vision. These initiatives also include the use of unmanned drones for enhanced inspection and safety practices, and smart control systems for efficient energy consumption.

“Already widely embedded across Holcim, AI catalyses operational efficiency and enhances customer service. We will ultimately scale up our use of AI to hundreds of sites worldwide,” Gutovic said.

EQ hits tungsten production high

OLIVIA THOMSON

Tungsten. Image: Björn Wylezich/stock.adobe.com

EQ Resources hit new weekly production records in June at its Mount Carbine and Saloro tungsten operations in Queensland and Spain respectively.

The Mount Carbine operations produced a record 70.4 tonnes of 50 per cent tungsten oxide (WO3) concentrate over a seven-day production period, with a daily record of 13.6 tonnes of 50 per cent WO3 concentrate produced within a 24-hour period.

According to EQ, this marks a 16 per cent improvement over the previous weekly production record at Mount Carbine. It also builds off the production record achieved in the March 2024 quarter.

The Saloro operations also achieved a weekly production record of around 50 tonnes of 50 per cent WO3-equivalent concentrate within a seven-day period at the beginning of June.

EQ credited the higher recovery and final concentrate production at Saloro to significant upgrades implemented during the June 2024 quarter.

“I am very pleased with the progress seen at both operations specifically throughout June,” EQ chief executive officer Kevin MacNeill said.

“Mount Carbine faced a major rebuild of our main screen, which allowed us to implement the previously announced upgrade of one of our XRT sorters. Technology is evolving quickly and given our good relationship with TOMRA and considering that we just commissioned the new generation sorters at Saloro, we could finish the upgrade in less than a week.”

Looking ahead, the Saloro processing plant de-bottlenecking program is scheduled for completion by the end of the September 2024 quarter.

The plant improvements implemented so far include the crushing and screening circuit, modification of jig ragging, spiral circuit optimisation and a rearrangement of the shaking table circuit to capture a higher proportion of fine scheelite previously lost in the tailings stream.

The Queensland Investment Corporation will also fund the expansion of Mount Carbine via a $20 million loan to be received by EQ in two instalments over a three-year period.

How BHP looks to prolong an iconic Australian copper mine

TIM BOND

Anna Wiley speaking at Copper to the World 2024. Image: Austmine

BHP’s planned expansion of Olympic Dam could be one of the most significant investments in Australian copper infrastructure in decades.

Speaking at the recent Copper to the World conference, BHP asset president copper Anna Wiley discussed the mining giant’s aspirations for the important metal in South Australia.

“To date, we have unlocked synergies of more than $US50 million ($75 million) per year from our newly combined operations in South Australia,” she said.

“At Olympic Dam, we have invested $1.8 billion over the past five years improving the safety, stability and reliability of our surface processing facilities.

“It’s a big operation – and it’s getting bigger.”

Olympic Dam churned out 212,000 tonnes of copper in the 2022–2023 financial year, and BHP is still making discoveries at depth.

“It’s one of the amazing things about Olympic Dam – we haven’t found the bottom of it yet,” Wiley said.

What’s next?
Wiley touched on BHP’s plans for its copper portfolio in South Australia, which includes:

Progress and completion of the Prominent Hill shaft that will haul ore to surface from 1.3 kilometres deep
Transition to a block cave at Carrapateena following the recent commissioning of a second underground crusher this year
Further underground development at Olympic Dam
Ongoing studies into a smelter/refinery expansion at Olympic Dam
A new decline at Oak Dam to complete underground exploration and pave the way for a potential underground mine development.

“In the coming years, we hope to make a final investment decision on an expansion of our existing copper refining facilities at Olympic Dam, to construct a two-stage smelter and associated refinery complex,” Wiley said.

“This has the potential to result in production of greater than 500,000 tonnes per annum of copper – and more than 700,000 tonnes of copper equivalent per annum when you include the by-products of gold, silver and uranium.

“This would constitute one of the most significant investments in copper metal manufacturing infrastructure in Australia for many decades.”

To achieve its copper aspirations, Wiley said it all boils down to partnership and collaboration.

“Investment in skills, training and innovation and a thriving METS (mining equipment, technology and services) sector that builds our collective capability to lead the next generation of technologies and systems will be critically important to South Australia across a range of sectors.”

BHP: Copper is king

KELSIE TIBBEN

BHP asset president copper South Australia Anna Wiley. Image: Austmine

BHP South Australian copper asset president Anna Wiley has laid out a copper-focused future for the Big Australian in her address to the Copper to the World conference in SA.

Wiley said SA is home to 70 per cent of Australia’s copper resources, one of only so many world-class copper resources remaining in the world.

“This places additional importance on ensuring we economically extract as much copper as possible from our current operations,” she told the audience.

Citing BHP’s Chile and South American operations, Wiley added the company’s South Australian foothold to the list of assets part of its plan for a future focused on copper.

It’s a plan that has been in the works for a while, culminating in BHP’s $9.7 billion acquisition of OZ Minerals last year, bringing the SA Carrapateena and West Musgrave copper projects into the BHP fold.

“Today, as BHP we operate three underground copper mines and a nationally significant smelter and refinery complex in South Australia’s far north,” Wiley said.

This includes the heart of BHP’s SA copper province, Olympic Dam, which Wiley said the company is hoping to grow with the help of additional smelting and refining plants.

“It’s a big operation – and it’s getting bigger,” she said.

“This has the potential to result in production of greater than 500 kilotonnes per annum of copper – and more than 700 kilotonnes of copper equivalent per annum when you include the by-products of gold, silver and uranium.

“This would constitute one of the most significant investments in copper metal manufacturing infrastructure in Australia for many decades.”

Wiley said BHP’s plan for growth relies on a range of elements coming together, like skills development, the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector, permitting and approvals, enabling infrastructure, underlying stability, and technology.

“But in one way or another they all boil down to one very important theme: partnership and collaboration,” she said.

“In recent memory it was impossible to imagine change of this pace in the mining industry, and it goes to show that amazing things can be achieved with a common ambition.

“Industry, governments, Traditional Owners, technology providers and communities working together will help bring more copper supply to market to meet global demand more quickly and more sustainably.”

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Astec extends MPS fixed plant distribution rights to NSW

OLIVIA THOMSON

Image: Astec Industries

Mineral Processing Solutions (MPS), an OPS Group company, will expand its distribution of Astec’s fixed plant and equipment to include aggregate and mining sectors in New South Wales.

Under the terms of the new agreement, MPS will supply fixed plant crushing and screening equipment to the NSW aggregate and quarry industry.

The move is an extension of a 2021 agreement between both two companies that saw MPS take on distribution of Astec Material Solutions’ products in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia, as well as the mining sector in Australia’s eastern states.

Astec regional managing director David Smale welcomed the move.

“Astec and MPS have forged a strong partnership over the years – one that has been of real benefit to our customers,” Smale said.

“The MPS team’s extensive local market knowledge and experience in mineral processing – supported by Astec’s innovative technologies and manufacturing capability – has made MPS the perfect partner to deliver outstanding products and service.”

MPS also distributes Astec Telestack mobile bulk materials handling equipment and Astec Breaker Technology International products throughout Australia, demonstrating the company’s strong presence on the east coast.

Local sales and service teams are in place, and new local support facilities in the NSW Hunter region have been stocked with the latest Astec crushing and screening equipment.

“MPS taking our fixed plant into the aggregate industry in NSW is the first step in what we expect to be a continuing expansion, with the company moving into the Queensland and Victorian markets over the next few years,” Smale said.

“For our existing quarrying customers, little will change. Through MPS, they will still have access to the complete range of Astec’s industry-leading crushing and screening equipment, plus the extensive knowledge and experience of the MPS sales and service teams.

“I’m delighted to be making this announcement, and (I) look forward to working alongside MPS as they continue to support our customers in building the infrastructure of Australia.”

Kingston Resources kicks off mining in NSW

TIM BOND

Image: Ronnarong/adobe.stock.com

Kingston Resources has commenced open pit mining at its Mineral Hill gold-copper mine in NSW.

Drilling and blasting kicked off at the Pearse North prospect, along with the delivery of first oxide ore to the run of mill pad.

Mineral Hill ceased hard rock mining in 2016 under previous owners. Since then, Kingston Resources has been working hard to recommence mining, with the object of becoming a regionally significant producer.

The commencement of mining at Mineral Hill comes three weeks after the successful completion of the tailings retreatment project.

The plant refurbishment project is also well-advanced, with the company expecting to be treating pit oxide ore in July.

Kingston continues to focus on employing and purchasing local, ensuring the benefits of Mineral Hill’s success stay within the region. Over the past three weeks, the company has welcomed 15 new employees to the Mineral Hill team within mining, processing and geology sections.

The majority of these new employees are local residents of the Lachlan Shire. The recruitment process is going well with an additional 13 people expected to commence with Kingston during June and July.

“We are delighted to announce the commencement of open pit mining at Pearse North, which signifies a major step forward for the Mineral Hill project,” Kingston Resources managing director and chief executive officer Andrew Corbett said.

“The Pearse North and Pearse South open pits will be the initial stages of our return to hard rock mining at Mineral Hill, and we look forward to continuing to develop this project and delivering value to our shareholders.”