Jubilee Metals: Copper process modules target ROM ore processing
Copper process modules specifically target the processing of Run-Of-Mine (“ROM”) ore Zambia copper gathered further momentum with the securing of the first LOM copper ore off-take agreement from an existing mining company (“Project M”), as opposed to copper tailings offtakes contracts signed in the past. Project M seeks to replicate the success of the South African modular chrome expansion roll-out drive, which seeks to process copper containing ore, deemed as waste by current or previous operators.
The copper processing modules will be trialled and tested at the same in-house development centre in South Africa where the chrome modules are currently manufactured.
The copper process modules specifically target the processing of Run-Of-Mine (“ROM”) ore that has not been previously processed, as opposed to tailings. In many cases, this ROM material has been rejected to mine waste dumps due to the type of copper contained.
Copper processing module designs range from 20,000 to 50,000 tonnes per month feed supply, capable of being delivered and commissioned within an eight-month period.
Jubilee holds the capacity to execute 3 modules in parallel at an estimated capital investment of US$6.5 million per module (capital estimate based on a 50 000 tonnes per month module).
Each 20,000 tonnes per month module is expected to produce the equivalent of 3,000 tonnes per annum of additional cathode.
Jubilee’s project team is expected to complete the selection of the optimum process module capacity for Project M within the next 6 weeks with deployment within 8 months following the conclusion of the capital allocation decision.
Project Roan’s upgrade currently underway includes the implementation of a 50,000 tonnes per month processing module, specifically targeting the previously announced approximate 6-year offtake agreement of unprocessed copper ROM material discarded as mined waste.
During the period, Jubilee was awarded the Mufulira Slag project to develop the processing of all historical slag waste from the smelter operations under a joint venture agreement with Mopani Copper Mines (“MCM”). The commercial terms of the joint venture are currently being negotiated and are expected to be finalised once the sale of MCM is completed which is subject to a well-publicised formal sale process.
Jubilee signed a technology exclusive partnership agreement for the development and implementation of a copper recovery solution called Glycine Leaching Technology for the processing of historical copper tailings with Draslovka Mining Solutions.
The partnership brings together two exceptionally skilled technical teams to work together on unlock the value from this vast resource in an environmentally friendly way.
The partnership specifically targets the processing of copper and other base metal historical tailings in Zambia with a potential of extending the work to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The technology partnership with Draslovka builds on the latest encouraging results achieved from the upscaled extended continuous trial runs that followed the earlier laboratory batch trials.
Calculated copper extraction of more than 80% of copper in tails has been achieved from the continuous Glycine Leaching Technology trials applying a modified reagent recipe.
Jubilee’s technical services is working closely with the Draslovka team to unlock the vast potential offered to recover copper from these low-grade tailings generated from past processing of copper ROM.
Jubilee’s engineers are currently completing the commercial review of the tailings recovery project which will inform the decision to implement further upscaled industrial scale trials.
The process development program for the processing of historical tails continue to show progress with results from the upscaled extended continuous trial runs confirming the encouraging results from the earlier laboratory batch trials.
Calculated copper extraction of more than 80% of copper in tailing has been achieved from the continuous Glycine Leaching Technology trials applying a modified reagent recipe.
Jubilee’s engineers are currently completing the commercial review of the tailings recovery project which will inform the decision to implement further upscaled industrial scale trials.
