Mineral Processing in Namibia: Scientific, Engineering and Environmental Challenges

Transcription

1 Mineral Processing in Namibia: Scientific, Engineering and Environmental Challenges J Ralston Emeritus Laureate Professor, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia, H Musiyarira Head of Dept of Mining and Process Engineering, Polytechnic of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia D Tesh Lecturer, Dept of Mining and Process Engineering, Polytechnic of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia V Do Cabo Deputy Director, Economic Geology Division, Geological Survey of Namibia Ministry of Mines and Energy, Windhoek, Namibia S Donegan Metallurgical Superintendent, Langer Heinrich Uranium, Swakopmund, Namibia.

2 Focus of this lecture: OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITY IN COUNTRY PRODUCTION AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

3 Mines in Namibia

4 Number of Mines: Operating & Under Construction/Just completed Members of Chamber of Mines [ C of M] Company Operation/Mine Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd Northern Coastal Mines (E Bay) 1 Southern Coastal Mines 2 Orange River Mines 3 Sendelingsdrif Deberas Debmarine Namibia Off Shore Operations 4 Rössing Uranium Limited Rössing Mine 5 Skorpion Mining Company Skorpion Zinc Mine 6 QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine 7 Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine 8 Okorusu Fluorspar Okorusu Mine 9 Langer Heinrich Uranium Ltd Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine 10 AREVA Resources Namibia Trekkopje Mine (on Care & Maintenance) 11 Salt & Chemicals (Pty) Ltd Walvis Bay Salt Pans 12 Weatherly Mining Namibia Otjihase Copper Mine 13 Matchless Copper Mine 14 OHORONGO Cement (Pty) Ltd Ohorongo Quarry (ML 153) 15 Salt Company (Pty) Ltd Swakopmund Salt Pans 16 African Huaxia Mining (Pty) Ltd Swartmoder Copper Mine 17 Total 17 Mines Under Construction/Just Completed B2Gold Namibia (Pty) Limited Otjikoto Gold Mine 1 Swakop Uranium (Proprietary) Limited Husab Uranium Mine 2 Weatherly Mining Namibia Tschudi Copper Mine 3 Total 3

5 Mines in the Pipeline & Mining Companies not belonging to the C of M Company Operation/Mine Number Mines in the Pipeline Bannerman Mining Resources Etango Uranium Projects (ML 161) 1 Norasa Uranium Project: Valencia Uranium (Pty) Ltd Valencia Project (ML 149) Namibplaas Project (EPL3638) 2 Zhonghe Resources Namibia Zhonghe Uranium Project (ML 171) 3 Reptile Uranium Namibia (Pty) Ltd Shiyela Iron Ore Project (ML 176) 4 Omahola & Tubas Sand Projects 5 Craton Mining & Exploration (Pty) Ltd Omitiomire Copper Project (ML 183) 6 Kombat Copper Inc. Kombat Mine (5 MLs) 7 Lodestone Namibia (Pty) Ltd Dordabis Iron Ore Project (ML granted in September 2014) 8 Otjozondu Mining (Pty) Ltd Otjozondu Manganese Mine 9 North River Resources Namib Lead Mine (ML in place) 10 Total 10 Mines not Members of CoM Purity Manganese (Pty) Ltd Purity Manganese Mine 1 Namibia Marble and Granite Namagra Quarry 2 Several other Dimension Stone Companies Dimension Stone Quarries 2,3, SSM operations for slate, blue lace agates Small Scale Mining Companies and several precious stones Several

6 Namdeb Diamonds Onshore and marine reserves in Namibia are estimated to exceed 3 Billion carats [GSN]

7 Electrowinning at Skorpion Zinc Production is approx. 150,000 tpa

8 AREVA Desalination Plant Capacity 20 million m 3 per annum

9 Ore Properties Langer Heinrich Ore In 2015 Namibia will become World s second largest Uranium producer.

10 Economics-Summary: In 2013, the turnover of the mining industry in Namibia was NAD$21 billion. Taxes and dividends paid amounted to NAD$2.8 billion. The mining industry generally accounts for more than 50 per cent of Namibia s export income. Total employment in the mining industry exceeds and, with a conservative multiplier of seven, accounts for approximately jobs in the economy. The Fraser Institute now ranks Namibia as the first most investment friendly destination in Africa, just pipping Botswana.

11 Education andtechnical Support in Namibia external to Companies Geological Survey of Namibia, key part of Ministry of Mines and Energy: covers areas from airborne geophysical surveys to stream-sediment sampling. Namibia University of Science and Technology [ changing from Polytechnic of Namibia] UG and PG education in mining and metallurgical engineering plus water and environmental studies and health/radiation courses in Windhoek, with specialized gemstone courses at the Keetmanshoop Gemstone centre[ partnership with Kristallen AB University of Namibia offers geology in Windhoek plus mining engineering in a northern campus.

12 Human Resource,Scientific and Engineering Challenges Recruitment and retention of highly-skilled technical personnel is a perennial issue. Company staff and future recruits require training and constant upgrading of skills in modern scientific and engineering process operations analysis.

13 Example Areas of Specific Need: defined during visits to 17 company operations and 5 government bodies, combined with comparable situations on other continents.

14 Mineral processing:.how to perform detailed size-by-size metallurgical analysis and associated mass balancing.impact of surface layers on processing.water quality and its impact on processing.effective management of water as a resource.pulp chemistry, embracing solution and surface chemistry, including the kinetics and thermodynamics of precipitation and adsorption.rheological expertise is required to handle clays during diamond processing, effectively dispose of tailings and minimise water and operate at higher solid loadings during processing..pyro-metallurgy expertise.

15 Hydrometallurgy:.understanding the precise mechanisms of solvent degradation during extraction and storage.redox control during leaching, including regrinding and re-leaching.expertise in highly-accurate uranium balances and identifying losses with modern tools, including QEMSEM and X-ray tomography.expertise in modern electrochemistry, including cyclic voltammetry and electrolytic deposition.

16 Mining:.materials handling expertise required to contain spillages and dust.robust energy audit procedures.understanding the influence of fine particles during backfilling.tailings retreatment..all aspects of surface mining.

17 Rehabilitation of Abandoned Mines: Namibia has a significant problem with the rehabilitation of old, abandoned mines and the numerous tailing dumps associated with them. This is a national issue, and appropriate remediation programs are coordinated through the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Additional expertise is required.

18 Opportunities for Critical Support: The Namibian Uranium Institute or NUA is now formally part of the NUST, located within Health Science, offering specific courses for Radiation Protection Officers at Certificate Level. Entry into this course assumes at least a Bachelor s degree in Science or Chemical Engineering. This Certificate qualification leads on to an Advanced Diploma and then to an Honours degree. Additional expertise is welcome.

19 Opportunities for Critical Support: Mine rehabilitation is of key interest to the Government and industry. Water management, water quality and composition assessment and their influence on all aspects of processing, mining and rehabilitation is an entire field of critical importance to Namibia. Areas in Processing, Hydrometallurgy amd Mining identified above

20 A strong case can be made to establish a National Mining and Minerals Research Centre Support from industry, government, universities and international organizations is feasible.

21 Many thanks to all Namibian Companies and Splendid Colleagues

22 Windhoek and Namibia

23 NUST Gathering