Floating Treatment Plant - Feasibility Study

Namdeb

Fire damage in 2005 resulted in severe damage to the Floating Treatment Plant at Namdeb's Mining Area No.1 and production was ceased.

In April 2007 it was decided to investigate all the options to mine and treat the resource, with the objective of attaining the optimal business case. A pre-feasibility conceptual study was awarded to ADP in April 2007 and completed in July 2007. The pre-feasibility study, after trading-off 14 different options, resulted in a single option that was progressed to feasibility level.

The design of the Floating Treatment Plant System was completed in November 2008 and incorporated the upgrading of the Vosta LMG Beachcomber Dredge which supplies the FTP, to sustainably mine at 2600 tonnes per hour, and the associated treatment of the product in the new plant the existing floating platform.

The pre-feasibility concluded that it was preferable to re-use the existing floating platform but to install suitable modular plant on board capable of handling peak surges of up to 4000 tonnes per hour from the dredger.

Final concentrate will be produced on board by a 250 tonne per hour Dense Media Separation Plant with the concentrate produced being securely transported to the main recovery plant on land.