Shaft hoisting commences in AUD589m underground project : Glencore

 pic20136Glencore’s  AUD589 million investment in Ernest Henry Mining near Cloncurry in  north-west  Queensland,  Australia,  to  transition  from  open  pit to underground  operations  has celebrated a significant milestone; commencing operations from a new kilometre-deep hoisting shaft.
Queensland  Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, the Hon Andrew Cripps officially  commemorated  the  milestone  at an event at Ernest Henry today attended  by  Glencore  Chief  Executive  Officer  Ivan Glasenberg, Head of Copper Telis Mistakidis and community leaders.
The  operation  will  now begin to ramp up copper production from 3 million tonnes  to  6  million tonnes per annum in 2015 and similarly double annual metal  production  to  50,000 tonnes of copper and 70,000 ounces of gold in concentrate over an extended mine life to 2026.
Chief  Operating  Officer  for  copper  assets  in  North  Queensland, Mike Westerman,  said  Ernest  Henry’s  development  strengthens  the production profile and sustainability of Glencore’s regional copper operations.
“Our  assets  in  Mount Isa and at Ernest Henry accounted for around 14% of Glencore’s global copper production in 2013,” Mr Westerman said.
“This investment in Ernest Henry has effectively added 14 years to the life of  the  mine  to  2026.  We’re pleased to have this opportunity to sustain production  at a higher rate, continue to support around 500 employees plus contractors  and  deliver  ongoing  benefits to the Cloncurry community and economy.”
The underground project commenced in December 2009 and has involved:
   · more  than  50 kilometres of underground development accessed by a 6 kilometre decline
   · constructing  associated  infrastructure,  including the underground primary  crusher  and  1.2  kilometres  of below surface and overland conveyors to transport ore to and from the hoisting system
   · installing a 75 metre high permanent headframe to house the hoisting system and with a capacity to lift around 1,000 tonnes per hour
   ·   reconfiguring  the  concentrator  to  align  with  the  underground production rate.
Four production levels are operational using an innovative sub-level caving mining  method  and  have  trucked ore to the surface via the decline since December 2011 while the project was underway.
As  at December 2013, Ernest Henry had total ore reserves underground of 74 million tonnes at 1.04% copper and 0.53 grams per tonne gold.
About Glencore
Glencore  is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies.  As  a  leading  integrated producer and marketer of commodities with  a  well-balanced  portfolio  of  diverse  industrial  assets,  we are strongly  positioned  to  capture value at every stage of the supply chain, from  sourcing  materials  deep  underground  to  delivering products to an international customer base.
Glencore’s  industrial  and  marketing activities are supported by a global network  of  more  than  90  offices  located  in  over  50  countries. Our diversified  operations  comprise  over 150 mining and metallurgical sites, offshore  oil  production  assets,  farms  and  agricultural facilities. We employ approximately 200,000 people, including contractors.
About Ernest Henry Mining
Ernest  Henry  Mining  is a copper and gold mining and processing operation located  38  kilometres  north  east of Cloncurry in north-west Queensland, Australia.  Ernest  Henry  began  commercial production in March 1998 as an open  pit  mining  operation  and  transitioned  to  underground  mining in December 2011, with operations commencing from a kilometre-deep underground hoisting shaft in June 2014.
After  years  of  trucking ore from our underground mine via a decline at a rate of approximately three million tonnes per annum, the underground shaft will enable us to ramp up production to around six million tonnes per annum in  2015,  extending  the  life  of our operations to at least 2026 with an expected  workforce  of  around  500  employees  plus contractors.
For more information, visit www.ernesthenrymining.com.au