Jervois Global Limited reported construction updates at its Idaho Cobalt Operations (ICO) in the United States.
Jervois has finished water commissioning in the mill and concentrator facilities at ICO, and full concentrator commissioning is scheduled for early Q2 2023.
The construction project will be completed once the mill and concentrator have been successfully commissioned and generate separated cobalt and copper concentrates.
Due to ongoing labour shortages for skilled electricians, the construction of the concentrator has been delayed, with initial ore conversion into concentrate product currently planned in early Q2. Recent electrical personnel additions are expected to boost productivity and enhance work.
The site’s piping and mechanical work is nearing completion, with significant progress made in recent months; remaining construction operations are primarily electrical, with a concentration on the concentrator and product packaging facilities.
According to Jervois, mining underground has produced the necessary ore access headings for ramp-up and transition to full production, in addition to advancing surface construction. Jervois has stored around 25,000 short tonnes of mineralised material ready for processing throughout this development phase. The mine development construction stage is now complete, with all underground infrastructure facilities functioning, including the principal ventilation raise, main shop, explosive magazine, associated fuel services, paste injection holes, and sumps. The first stope in the mineralised horizon has been successfully opened, further de-risking mining and showing the possibility for short-hole, open-stope mining technologies, potentially cutting mining costs.
As outlined during the January 2023 quarterly earnings call, Jervois said capital costs would climb relative to the construction budget, with upward pressures continuing as previously stated.
