PRESS RELEASE: Hatch, with a portfolio of more than 420 global optimization projects across the globe at which it has contributed practical mining and processing improvements, has already been a part of CEEC in one respect as its global director of mining and mineral processing Ivan Mullany has served as CEEC director since 2013.
CEEC CEO Alison Keogh said the non-profit, funded entirely by the industry, was proud to be teaming up with the group.
“There’s great synergy between what Hatch and CEEC are striving to achieve through the sharing of smart practices,” she said, adding that Hatch is recognised worldwide through its people, with highly respected experts in mining, comminution and processing.
“Hatch global director consulting and technology Walter Valery was awarded the prestigious CEEC Medal in 2012 for his contribution to an inspiring case study at Antamina in Peru. The team demonstrated important ways for miners to enhance value and also reduce energy through smarter comminution practices.”
Valery added that its approach at Antamina helped it to identify value and other benefits by treating harder and softer ores differently.
“Energy savings of 25% were achieved,” he said. “Throughput when treating harder ores increased from 2600 tph to 4500 tph while specific energy consumption reduced from 14 kWh/t to 10 kWh/t. This increased resource efficiency and reduced total environmental impact of metal concentrate production.”
A copy of the abstract of “Optimisation and continuous improvement of the Antamina Comminution Circuit,” which details the firm’s work to integrate and optimize drill and blast with the comminution circuit and bring the operation profitability and more sustainable throughput, is available to read on CEEC’s web site.
Valery also said Hatch was delighted to build on its relationship with CEEC.
“The mining and metals industry is facing declining feed grades and increasingly tough economic conditions. Miners need to operate more efficiently to meet environmental targets, but also to remain economically viable. This is a key focus for CEEC and Hatch,” he said.
