Glencore: Shaft hoisting commences in AUD589m underground project Mittwoch, 25. Juni 2014 - 08:11
Cloncurry, Australia
25 June 2014
Shaft hoisting commences in AUD589m underground project
Glencore’s AUD589 million investment in Ernest Henry Mining near Cloncurry
in north-west Queensland, Australia, to transition from open pit to
underground operations has celebrated a significant milestone; commencing
operations from a new kilometre-deep hoisting shaft.
Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, the Hon Andrew Cripps
officially commemorated the milestone at an event at Ernest Henry today
attended by Glencore Chief Executive Officer Ivan Glasenberg, Head of
Copper Telis Mistakidis and community leaders.
The operation will now begin to ramp up copper production from 3 million
tonnes to 6 million tonnes per annum in 2015 and similarly double annual
metal production to 50,000 tonnes of copper and 70,000 ounces of gold in
concentrate over an extended mine life to 2026.
Chief Operating Officer for copper assets in North Queensland, Mike
Westerman, said Ernest Henry’s development strengthens the production
profile and sustainability of Glencore’s regional copper operations.
“Our assets in Mount Isa and at Ernest Henry accounted for around 14% of
Glencore’s global copper production in 2013,” Mr Westerman said.
“This investment in Ernest Henry has effectively added 14 years to the life
of the mine to 2026. We’re pleased to have this opportunity to sustain
production at a higher rate, continue to support around 500 employees plus
contractors and deliver ongoing benefits to the Cloncurry community and
economy.”
The underground project commenced in December 2009 and has involved:
· more than 50 kilometres of underground development accessed by a 6
kilometre decline
· constructing associated infrastructure, including the underground
primary crusher and 1.2 kilometres of below surface and overland
conveyors to transport ore to and from the hoisting system
· installing a 75 metre high permanent headframe to house the hoisting
system and with a capacity to lift around 1,000 tonnes per hour
· reconfiguring the concentrator to align with the underground
production rate.
Four production levels are operational using an innovative sub-level caving
mining method and have trucked ore to the surface via the decline since
December 2011 while the project was underway.
As at December 2013, Ernest Henry had total ore reserves underground of 74
million tonnes at 1.04% copper and 0.53 grams per tonne gold.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Vicki Wilson
t: +61 7 4769 4578
m: +61 407 026 671
e: vicki.wilson@glencore.com.au
Agata Graham
t: +61 7 3115 5404
m: +61 478 304 345
e: agata.graham@glencore.com.au
Francis De Rosa
t: +61 2 9253 6789
m: +61 417 074 751
e: francis.de.rosa@glencore.com
www.glencore.com
About Glencore
Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource
companies. As a leading integrated producer and marketer of commodities
with a well-balanced portfolio of diverse industrial assets, we are
strongly positioned to capture value at every stage of the supply chain,
from sourcing materials deep underground to delivering products to an
international customer base.
Glencore’s industrial and marketing activities are supported by a global
network of more than 90 offices located in over 50 countries. Our
diversified operations comprise over 150 mining and metallurgical sites,
offshore oil production assets, farms and agricultural facilities. We
employ approximately 200,000 people, including contractors.
About Ernest Henry Mining
Ernest Henry Mining is a copper and gold mining and processing operation
located 38 kilometres north east of Cloncurry in north-west Queensland,
Australia. Ernest Henry began commercial production in March 1998 as an
open pit mining operation and transitioned to underground mining in
December 2011, with operations commencing from a kilometre-deep underground
hoisting shaft in June 2014.
After years of trucking ore from our underground mine via a decline at a
rate of approximately three million tonnes per annum, the underground shaft
will enable us to ramp up production to around six million tonnes per annum
in 2015, extending the life of our operations to at least 2026 with an
expected workforce of around 500 employees plus contractors. For more
information, visit www.ernesthenrymining.com.au.