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LONDON (Alliance News) - Strategic Minerals PLC said on Thursday production is to re-start at Australia's Leigh Creek copper mine in April.
Strategic Minerals has engaged PPM Global to refurbish the Mountain of Light processing facility, and the contractor will also manage a trial re-start.
Assay results, Strategic Minerals continued, from an air core programme confirm residual copper in existing heap leach pads, and reactivation of such pads is permitted under the company's current permits.
Strategic Minerals is "well advanced" on the feasibility study for re-starting production at Leigh Creek's Paltridge North and Rosmann East deposits.
Managing Director John Peters said: "The trial re-activation of the heap leach operations and the extraction of copper through the soon to be refurbished processing plant provides a significant step to full scale production which is scheduled for late 2019 or early 2020.
"While the restart of operations is expected to commence in April, shipment of our first copper is not expected for three months after commencement of operations. The engagement of PPM Global, an exceptionally experienced company who has previously operated the Mountain of Light plant, provides the company confidence in planned operations."
Shares were 3.1% higher on Thursday at a price of 1.70 pence each.
