Walkabout Resources, the company developing the high-grade Lindi Jumbo Graphite Mine in southeast Tanzania, has announced the successful start of wet commissioning of the crushing circuit at the project with the first feed of graphite ore through the entire crushing circuit
According to the company, achieving this satisfies the necessary practical working of the entire circuit and serves to further de-risk operational start-up with the creation of a fine ore stockpile of high-grade graphite ore.This will be used for the wet commissioning of the remained of the processing plant.
Approximately 19,000 tonnes from the existing ore stockpile will be used for the commissioning process and is sufficient for a full month’s production at nameplate capacity. Using the existing stockpile has allowed the company to push back the commencement of operational mining which has delivered real cash savings. Once this does commence, there will be an orderly build-up of highgrade and medium grade stockpiles for optimal grade feed to the plant and the ramp-up to nameplate ore throughput and recoveries.
Andrew Cunningham, managing director & CEO of Walkabout Resources, remarked, “It is great to see the first feed of Lindi Jumbo Graphite ore and the first part of the plant operating as designed. Additionally, as the operations team starts to prepare for full production the fine ore stockpile will give them a flying start by de-risking the source of ore for the concentrator over the coming months.”
Currently the delivery of MV and LV switchgear and transformers are being delayed at Dar es Salaam Port due to congestion and so the current mobile generating capacity is used for the wet commissioning of the crushing circuit.Once the transformers and switchgear have been delivered the full 5MW of grid power will become available to advance wet commissioning. Dry commissioning has also reportedly started on equipment within the grinding and flotation circuit and these will continue in preparation for continuous feed through the entire processing circuit.
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