Trigon Metals Inc has announced its first shipment of copper concentrate from Kombat Mine in Namibia.
According to a statement issued by Trigon’s president and chief executive Jed Richardson, this milestone marks the beginning of cash flow from the operation, with more than 100 tonnes having already been shipped.
“Another tremendous milestone for the team at Kombat, as cash flow begins. Mining and milling operations are performing optimally. All credit to the fantastic team on site,” he says.
Kombat Mine is one of the most significant copper mines in Namibia. Mining operations originally commenced in 1962, producing until 2008, and with total output reaching 12,46 million tonnes of ore, grading 2,6% copper on average.
After being taken over by Trigon, the mine resumed production in May, with an expected life of mine of 15 years.
Trigon Metals aims to produce more than four million pounds of copper by next March.
According to Richardson, mining operations continued to perform well in September, providing a consistent plant feed averaging 1,2% copper in line with the mine management’s plan.
He said the Kombat mill operated for 23 days in September at an average throughput of 718 tonnes per day, corresponding to 72% capacity.
“By the end of September production ramped up to strong, with steady operation consistently above 95% capacity from 16 September onwards.
“The company is on track to declare commercial production in the second week of October,” he says.
Richardson says copper recoveries averaged 80,5% for the month, and as production settled into steady operation from mid-September, the mill has achieved recoveries of 84,8% in line with projected recoveries of 85,0%.
He says a total of 470 tonnes of concentrate was produced in September with an average concentrate grade of 35,3% copper and 345 g/t of silver.
“To date, 101 tonnes have been shipped, and shipments continue as finished concentrate at site has begun to overwhelm onsite storage facilities,” the chief executive says.
Currently, the company has operations in Namibia and Morocco.
In Namibia, the company holds an 80% interest in five mining licences in the Otavi mountain lands, an area of Namibia widely recognised for its high-grade copper deposits.
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na
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