KANSANSHI MINING: Expansion and Enterprise Projects Approved at Cornerstone Copper Asset
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Kansanshi Mining is Zambia’s leading copper and gold producer and subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals Ltd (FQM) which holds an 80% interest in the Kansanshi mine, one of the largest copper mines in the world. The FQM board has now given the go-ahead for two huge projects at the mine, whose heritage dates back to the fourth century A.D.
The Kansanshi copper-gold deposit is based near Solwezi, around 160km west of the copper-cobalt reserves of the Zambia Copperbelt. It remains today an active area live with dual open-pit sites and stands as one of the largest copper reserves in Zambia, with estimated reserves of 727 million tonnes of ore graded at 0.86% copper.
First Quantum, whose world-renowned Kansanshi Mining operates the country’s copper deposits through the site, is a global company, producing copper in the form of concentrate, cathode and anode and boasting inventories of nickel, gold and cobalt. “We operate long-life mines in several countries and employ approximately 20,000 people world-wide,” the company states.
“We are well-known for our ‘can do’ attitude and specialist technical, engineering, construction and operational skills, which allow us to develop and successfully run complex mines and minerals processing plants.” Since production at Kansanshi commenced in 2005, the company has implemented a number of expansions and developments, resulting in a contemporary annual production capacity of some 340,000 tonnes of copper and more than 120,000 ounces of gold.
KEY PROJECTS
Geared toward transitioning Kansanshi from its historic more selective, high-grade medium-scale operation to a medium-grade, larger-scale mining operation, more evidence of FGM’s pragmatism came in May last year when its Board of Directors announced the sign off on the S3 expansion at the Kansanshi mine, set to expand production and extend by a further two decades the life of what has been a cornerstone asset of the organisation for more than 15 years already.
Approval was given at the same time for the Enterprise nickel project, again in Zambia, and both projects were underway immediately following authorisation being issued. The company re-commenced detailed engineering works for the S3 Expansion to determine purchase orders for key long-lead items, including the SAG mill, ball mill and in-pit crushing station, and mobilised a mining contractor for the Enterprise nickel project in order to commence pre-stripping of the pit in June 2022.
“First Quantum has been working constructively with the Government of Zambia’s New Dawn administration as part of their efforts to reform the mining sector, attract investment and increase Zambia’s copper production,” Tristan Pascall, MD, reported of the developments, potentially seeing Kansanshi’s life pushed out to 2044 with the introduction of new electrical loading and drilling equipment along with the extension of the current electric trolley assist infrastructure.
Enterprise, meanwhile, is set to contribute some 30,000 t/y of nickel concentrate in the coming years.
“The approval of the projects reflects First Quantum’s increased confidence in the investment climate in Zambia,” Pascall assessed. “The low-cost, high-grade Enterprise nickel project is well placed to supply the rapidly growing electric vehicle battery sector.”
“The S3 expansion and the Enterprise nickel project are a key part of our brownfield growth strategy. The approval of these two projects is an important milestone for the company’s path towards responsible production growth of the metals needed for the global green energy transition.”
CONSOLIDATING OPERATIONS
Approval of these two projects follows the efforts of the Government of Zambia’s New Dawn administration to enhance the investment climate for mining, and to seek commitments from the mining sector to contribute to the national economy and to corporate social responsibility. According to FQM, these initiatives will help establish a platform for more stable, durable and responsible mining in Zambia.
“First Quantum and the government have successfully resolved all points of contention that have been stumbling blocks to progress on the S3 Expansion and Enterprise nickel project,” it clarified, paving the way for the finer details to be finalised, including a large minerals processing equipment package order placed with Metso.
The value of the order exceeds 20 million euros, and the scope of delivery includes a plethora of apparatus. Most of the separation equipment forms part of Metso’s Planet Positive offering, and this latest commitment follows Metso’s award last year of an order for two PremierTM grinding mills with a total installed power of 50MW including Metso Megaliner and metallic mill linings.
“Kansanshi’s flotation flowsheet combines the well-proven, energy efficient TankCell flotation cells with the new Concorde Cell, unlocking the potential for further improved flotation performance,” explains Antti Rinne, Vice President, Flotation, at Metso. “Concorde Cell high-intensity, forced-air pneumatic flotation cells allow operations to enhance fine and ultrafine particle selectivity.”
FQM will now consolidate the Road and Earthworks Division, Mining Divisions and related supporting services currently carried out by First Quantum Mining Operations Limited (FQMO) with the operations at Kansanshi Mining in readiness for the S3 expansion.
FQMO was the original First Quantum Minerals corporate entity in Zambia which operated the Bwana Mkubwa mine, and following the expansion of the FQM operations in Zambia, with both the Kansanshi and Sentinel mines, FQMO evolved to house a wide range of business functions to support these operations including mining, road and earthworks, exploration and corporate services. This consolidation seeks to re-organise the FQM Zambian business operations in a more logical and efficient way, housing all units that solely service Kansanshi under one umbrella.
“We remain highly optimistic about the prospects and outlook for the mining industry in Zambia,” asserts Rudi Badenhorst, CEO, “and our unwavering commitment to Kansanshi is demonstrated through our substantial investments in the S3 project, smelter upgrade, mine fleet enhancement and other strategic initiatives totalling over USD 1billion over the next 2 years.”
“Consolidating our mining operations at Kansanshi will enable us to better support the roll-out of these projects.”