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Equinox to announce Lumwana expansion decision early next y
By: Esmarie Swanepoel
10th March 2011
PERTH (miningweekly.com) − ASX- and TSX-listed copper-miner Equinox Minerals would announce an investment decision for the Lumwana copper expansion, in Zambia, early next year, CEO Craig Williams said on Thursday.
The first ore from the expansion was expected in 2015, he said in a conference call with analysts and journalists discussing the company’s fourth quarter and full-year results announcement.
Williams said recent drilling at the Chimiwungo deposit, which forms part of Lumwana copper project, had indicated a resource of between one-billion and 1,5-billion tons of copper ore, similar in grade to ore currently being mined, which would support a longer life and higher output at the Lumwana plant.
The first stage of the feasibility study into the expansion of the Lumwana project from the current 20-million tons a year throughput to 45-million ton a year throughput, would be completed before the end of June.
Under the 45-million tons a year operational capacity, Lumwana was expected to have a life of mine of between 27 and 37 years, and would initially produce copper in concentrate at a rate of 260 000 t/y, said Williams.