Substantial Expansion Planned For Phalaborwa Phosphate Mine
State-owned phosphate-rock-miner and processor Foskor plans to expand its pyroxenite mining by increasing production in Phalaborwa's south pyroxenite open pit by 20 million to 30 million tons of ore a year.
Foskor currently mines pyroxenite from the north pit and foskorite from surface stockpiles, both of which contain phosphate. The phosphate rock, in turn, is used to produce phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid is used in a number of applications, including fertilisers, animal feed and in food preservatives.
The south pyroxenite pit will have a lifespan of more than 70 years at the planned production rate. Foskor is the only phosphate producing mine of this size in the country.
The project, located in the Limpopo Province, is planned in two phases, with the first phase, involving feasibility and technical-cost study, scheduled for completion by January 2007.
Project approval is planned for March 2007, and will be followed by a second phase of project implementation.
According to Foskor project executive Anton Nienaber, the project will involve the development of the open pit, the selection of the drill- and-blast and load-and-haul contractors and the design and construction of the required processing plant.
“All phases are scheduled for completion by the end of 2009, when full-scale production from the new pit is expected,” he says.
Nienaber adds that the current operation satisfies the country’s present domestic needs for phosphate rock.
The pyroxenite production expansion is required to replace the depleting reserves of foskorite ore.
“The marginally-developed south pyroxenite openpit is currently mined by other companies for vermiculite, which occurs near the surface.”
Foskor currently mines pyroxenite from the north pit and foskorite from surface stockpiles, both of which contain phosphate. The phosphate rock, in turn, is used to produce phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid is used in a number of applications, including fertilisers, animal feed and in food preservatives.
The south pyroxenite pit will have a lifespan of more than 70 years at the planned production rate. Foskor is the only phosphate producing mine of this size in the country.
The project, located in the Limpopo Province, is planned in two phases, with the first phase, involving feasibility and technical-cost study, scheduled for completion by January 2007.
Project approval is planned for March 2007, and will be followed by a second phase of project implementation.
According to Foskor project executive Anton Nienaber, the project will involve the development of the open pit, the selection of the drill- and-blast and load-and-haul contractors and the design and construction of the required processing plant.
“All phases are scheduled for completion by the end of 2009, when full-scale production from the new pit is expected,” he says.
Nienaber adds that the current operation satisfies the country’s present domestic needs for phosphate rock.
The pyroxenite production expansion is required to replace the depleting reserves of foskorite ore.
“The marginally-developed south pyroxenite openpit is currently mined by other companies for vermiculite, which occurs near the surface.”
Labels: mining, Phalaborwa
posted by Kruger2Canyons.com at
Saturday, April 01, 2006
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