https://www.miningweekly.com

Power no longer major threat to Moma – Kenmare

29th April 2016

By: Natasha Odendaal

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

Font size: - +

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Power supply challenges that have affected production at the Moma titanium minerals mine, in northern Mozambique, have been eased considerably with visibly improved power quality and consistency since December, enabling a production surge during the first quarter of the year.

Titanium minerals and zircon producer Kenmare Resources on Friday said the installation and commissioning of additional power transmission infrastructure by Electricidade de Moçambique (EdM) led to a capacity increase of 50 MW, or 42%, in December.

“We have already seen considerable improvement in power quality and reliability in the first few months of 2016 and we believe power should no longer be a fundamental constraint on Moma's ability to produce,” said MD Michael Carvill.

A further increase in transmission capacity of 10 MW was expected to be commissioned in mid-2016.

Further, Kenmare indicated that a ship-based 100 MW mobile power generation plant positioned nearby at Nacala and currently being commissioned was expected to provide significant additional capacity and stabilisation of the network voltage.

“These improvements to the network gave the management team confidence in placing the diesel generators on standby earlier than expected, through the high thunderstorm risk summer months, with no significant effect to power supply or operations. However, the generators remain available on standby should the need arise,” Carvill said.

In a trading update for the first quarter ended March 31, Kenmare noted that ore mined had increased 120% to seven-million tonnes, mostly owing to improved power supply quality and consistency.

Heavy mineral concentrate production in the first quarter increased 90% to 274 800 t, while ilmenite production increased 39% to 185 000 t. Zircon production increased 12% to 11 600 t.

Given the more stable power supply, Kenmare expected to produce 950 000 t of ilmenite, 70 000 t of zircon and 8 000 t of rutile for the full year.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

Booyco Electronics
Booyco Electronics

Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
SAIMC (Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Control)
SAIMC (Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Control)

Education: Consulting with member companies to obtain the optimal benefits from their B-BBEE spending, skills resources as well as B-BBEE points

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
27th March 2024
Resources Watch
Resources Watch
27th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.078 0.111s - 88pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now