This deposit has been key feeder for the giant Balkhash smelter, responsible for 65% of Kazakhstan’s copper production. Dumps of over 300mln ton accumulated from 40 yrs of operation
Resource Analysis
- Wardell Armstrong (MRI, PCR) 2020
- During2015-2016 ,the Company undertook exploration:
- Reverse circulation(RC)drilling–47holes
- SurfacePitting–141
- ToePitting–26
- more than 900 ore samples
| Name of Stockpile |
Category |
Volume (,000 m³) |
Density (t/m³) |
Tonnage (kt) |
Cu grade (%) |
Contained Copper (Kt) |
|
XXXXX
(sulphide)
|
$C_1$ |
1,004.8 |
3.41 |
3,426.3 |
0.23 |
7.9 |
|
$C_2$ |
576.7 |
3.41 |
1,966.6 |
0.45 |
8.8 |
|
XXXXX
(Oxide ore)
|
C1 |
162.9 |
3.40 |
553.9 |
0.54 |
3.0 |
|
XXXXX 1
(Overburden)
|
C1 |
83,162.9 |
2.27 |
188,780 |
0.154 |
290.3 |
|
XXXXX
(Overburden)
|
C1 |
4,119.8 |
2.27 |
9,352 |
0.097 |
9.1 |
|
XXXXX
(Overburden)
|
$C_1$ |
50,170.2 |
2.25 |
112,882.9 |
0.069 |
78.3 |
| TOTAL |
|
139,197.2 |
|
316,961.7 |
0.125 |
397.4 |
SX-EW plant Results
- The pilot plant commissioned in autumn 2017 and produced first copper in November 2017.
- Following remedial work on the leaching pad and collection system in spring of 2018, the plant has reached a steady-state production with PLS ERE grcae of 1.5-1.6 g/L, and average daily production of 200 kg of copper cathode
- Over 36 tons of cathode copper sold on the local market at near LME prices.
- 1.2 km electric line fo the site and 630 kW transformer — completed and connected fo local electric grid
- 400 m access road to the site — completed
- 1.1 km water pipeline fo the site — completed
- Building for the SX-EW pilot plant — completed, insulation and ventilation installed
- 1 km of piping for the heap irrigation — purchased, connected and laid out
- Ponds and collection trenches — completed and lined with geomembrane
SX-EW Business Model
- Planned annual production: 10,000 tons of LME grade “A” cathode copper
- A 23-year copper production contract with the government of Kazakhstan signed in May 2017.
- Key production cost drivers:
- Chemicals & Reagents and Power (variable) — favorable geographic location helps keeping these costs low
- Labor and Production Overheads (fixed)
- Mineral Extraction Tax @ 5.7% on value of copper in PLS
- Distribution & Selling — mix of fixed and variable driven by local Infrastructure and T&C of the oft-take contract
