PRESS RELEASE: GR Engineering (GRES) has progressed significantly with the design, engineering and construction of the 2.5Mtpa Dalgaranga processing plant. Design and engineering are complete, and construction over 90% complete, with completion expected in around two months, approximately one month ahead of schedule.
As construction of the project has progressed ahead of the original schedule, it will now see commissioning and first gold production in May 2018.
To date the following activities have been undertaken within the process plant:
- SAG mill installation is well advanced;
- The crusher and ROM bin installation is well advanced;
- Steel erection has been completed;
- Mechanical installations well advanced;
- Reagent storage area has been completed; and
- Water services area has been commisioned and handed over to Gascoyne's operations team.
Construction of the contractor-supplied power station and the fuel storage facilities is also advancing on schedule. Commissioning of the power station is expected to commence in late April, and the process plant commissioning in May.
The mining contractor (NRW) has commenced mining at the Sly Fox, Golden Wings and Gilbeys deposits, with a fleet of four excavators and approximately 18 trucks mobilised to site. The establishment of the mining workshops and associated facilities is continuing. These facilities are expected to be fully operational by the end of March 2018.
The ramp up of mining productivities is continuing with the full productivity rates scheduled to be achieved in May, to align with the commencement of processing. Based on the current mining schedule, it is anticipated that there will be between 350,000t and 400,000t of ore stockpiled on the ROM pad when processing commences in May.
