2 Jul 2019 15:16

CZP intends to boost ore production at Kazakh deposit fourfold by 2025

CHELYABINSK. July 2 (Interfax) - Nova Zinc, a subsidiary of the Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant (CZP) in Kazakhstan and the operator of the Akzhal deposit, will boost its production of ore from the current 300,000 tonnes per year to 1.2 million by 2025 using underground mining techniques, CZP's press service told Interfax.

The company said that the Akzhal deposit is currently being developed using both open-pit and underground methods.

"Mining work at the Central Quarry will be completed in 2020, and the company will completely switch to an underground method for producing ore. Construction and mining equipment has already started descending to the zinc levels," it said.

The company expects to mine 300,000 tonnes of ore in 2019.

"We're planning to go through four levels here using drilling units and blasting. Ore will be delivered to the surface using 15-tonne haul trucks, then stored and loaded into BelAZes for delivery to the enriching plant," it said.

A mine shaft will be built at the Central Quarry by 2022 with equipment for descending and raising ore.

The Eastern section of the deposit, which is not currently active, will be developed using a sub-inclined shaft. Construction has already begun, the press service said.

Nova Zinc has more than 19 million tonnes of salable ore in reserves, according to CZP.

CZP is planning to work at the Akzhal deposit until 2037. The switch to underground mining will extend the lifespan of the mine and ensure stable supplies of zinc concentrate to CZP.

Production there began in 1935. The enrichment plan has a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of ore per year.

CZP (controlled by the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company) acquired 100% of Nova Zinc in 2006.

In 2016, 36,718 tonnes of zinc concentrate and 5,677 tonnes of lead concentrate were produced at the deposit.