THEROADLESSTRAVELLED
Sourcing second hand plant equipment
DAMIAN CONNELLY
DIRECTOR/PRINCIPAL CONSULTING ENGINEER
MINERAL ENGINEERING TECHNICAL SERVICES (METS)
METS facilitated Troy in reaching their objective to reduce
capital expenditure by developing a processing pathway and
plant design utilising second hand plant equipment, where
possible, and to progress the project to operation stage. Extensive
modelling and test work was carried out by METS in order to
determine the suitability of second hand plant equipment.
“
METS created a flowsheet based on minimising capital
cost, operability, recovery and minimising technical risk,”
said Director/Principal Consulting Engineer Damian Connelly.
“
Results of the comminution test work were used to provide an
assessment of the suitability of an existing second hand crushing
and grinding circuit. Simulation software was used to model the
comminution circuit.
“
Accurate test work was pivotal in producing an economically
viable project. Modelling is particularly important to confirm
the suitability of the second hand equipment; it also confirms
the importance of the metallurgical test work in evaluating the
comminution indices and evaluating the variability of each of
these,” he said.
METS were able to significantly reduce expenses by following
this innovative approach to capital expenditure reduction. The
Casposo gold and silver mine was developed within a year and
As the resource sector becomes tougher in a climate of rising
costs and cyclical metal prices, mining organisations need
to continue to improve efficiencies and do more with less. All
companies look for ways to reduce cost and increase profits,
and resource operators are no different, especially during
economically uncertain times.
There are many challenges that exist in making a resource
project a reality. Nowadays it takes a more thoughtful approach
to reduce capital expenditure so as to improve the project’s
fundamental economics whilst maintaining efficient and
effective plant design and processes. Many companies opt to
take the more common path of reducing cash operating costs by
cutting surge capacity or reducing labour costs.
A route that companies do not always consider is to source
second hand plant equipment to reduce a project’s capital
expenditure. Troy Resources Limited (Troy) is a good example
of a company that managed to flourish during a global recession.
Independent specialist consulting group, METS, were
engaged to assist Troy in developing a mine at Casposo in
Argentina that would be low cost and profitable.
MINESITE 2012
•
148