November 30, 2018

Collaborative success between Mintrex and Saracen

Saracen has articulated a bold growth strategy called ‘Flight to 400’ and Mintrex is excited to assist with the Carosue Dam expansion pillar.

Collaboration between Saracen and Mintrex spans many years with provision of engineering services to the Thunderbox and Carosue Dam Operations since 2011.  Collaboration is a particularly effective approach because it allows the right issues to be solved. Technical Director Hien Ngo commented, “It is particularly effective in mining operations where the operating teams have huge knowledge to be complemented by practical, external design expertise”.

The Carosue Dam process plant was commissioned in 2000 with a 2.0 Mtpa design capacity.  Since 2010 Saracen has progressively increased the throughput to a current rate of 2.4 Mtpa.  Current aspirations are to increase plant capacity to between 3.0 and 3.2 Mtpa and earlier this year Saracen commissioned Mintrex to undertake various option studies to that end.  The initial scoping level option study validated Saracen’s in-house assessments of the likely cost for an additional milling unit as well as the associated process plant changes.  Mintrex is now completing a Definitive Feasibility Study which will provide a project definition ready for implementation when required.

Throughout the study Mintrex has worked closely with Saracen’s personnel to gain their insights into the project criteria, constraints and opportunities, providing an invaluable contribution to the quality and confidence of the completed study.