Orion Minerals Limited has awarded South African mining contractor Newrak Mining Group subsidiary P2 Mining (PTY) LTD a six-month trial mining contract for an early works trial underground mining program at Prieska Copper-Zinc-Mine (PCZM) in the Northern Cape Province .
The trial mining will use conventional and alternative underground methods to target the +105 Level Crown Pillar, involving 120m footwall ramp development and 150m ore development along strike for a cut-and-fill mining cycle.
The Newrak contract includes opening historical stope draw-points for selective loading and hauling of broken ore, allowing bulk sampling and metallurgical trials, and potentially building a stockpile for future processing once the concentrator plant is commissioned.
“This is a tremendously exciting period for Orion as we move to active trial mining at Prieska and start our transition from developer to operating mining company. We have spent the past two months completing essential preparations, such as installing underground refuge chambers, upgrading hoisting capacity of the emergency escapeway to surface and sourcing and installing key ventilation equipment,” Orion Managing Director and CEO Errol Smart said.
“The trial mining phase will also see Orion apply our core philosophy of bringing proven, innovative methods matched with appropriate skills and experience to our operations, while at the same time training and upskilling our host community members so that we can ultimately source our staff locally. We also aim to develop local enterprises to service Orion’s mines and the South African mining industry, encouraging our service providers and contractors to support these endeavours and contribute to the skills transfer and enterprise development,” Smart added.
Newrak will test an ITC120 continuous loader and two-tonne bi-directional trucks in the underground development cycle as part of the trial mining contract. The machine trial is being conducted at Orion’s request, with equipment secured from Germany.
Compared to traditional mechanised rock loading and hauling methods, the ITC120 loader offers significant promise in improved cycle times and development rates. Once dewatering is completed, these changes are expected to have a substantial positive influence on both the +105 and Prieska Deeps mining.
The continuous loader and bi-directional drive dump trucks are expected to improve safety, reduce cycle time, and lower development costs during development. This system eliminates the need for shuttling load haul dumpers and loading and passing bays in development tunnels. Direct conveyor loading eliminates the need for reversing long distances by load, haul, and dump loaders. Additionally, the number of engines running is reduced, resulting in decreased exhaust gases and heat.
Continuous loader and bi-directional trucks are expected to be used in drift-and-fill stopes in the +105 mining block and shallow-dipping Prieska Deeps ore blocks. The anticipated improvements in development cycle time and cost reductions will be demonstrated during trial mining and carried forward to the revised BFS for early mining start and future deeps mining at PCZM.
Orion awarded the contract based on the host community participation framework, ensuring Newrak’s experience and skills for efficient operations are used in the host community, while trial mining will be used to upskill and train local people.
Newrak is partnering with the host community to provide training and skills transfer during the trial mining period. The first group of 20 trainees, who have shown interest in a mining career, will be selected for Competency B training at the Murray and Roberts Training Centre in Carletonville. The 20 trainees will be considered for ongoing training under Newrak stewardship when they successfully complete their competency training.
Additionally, both companies plan to collaborate with unsuccessful host community tenderers for the trial mining contract to explore potential collaboration and capacity-building opportunities.
