Berkeley Mineral To Use Leach Processing For Kabwe Plant

LONDON (Alliance News) - Berkeley Mineral Resources PLC Thursday said it is making progress on developing a leach processing methodology for the washplant tailings plant and the leach plant residue tailings plant at the Kabwe project in Zambia.

The company said the metallurgical and mineral test work at the leach plant residue tailings facility has now advanced to a mini-pilot stage. It said that the process provides a credible alternative to recovering zinc and lead from both tailings plants, with recoveries for both metals improved.

As a a result, the company is to use leach processing for processing at both tailings plants and will finalise the designs for a pilot plant in coming weeks.

"I am pleased to report, notwithstanding the flaws in the definitive feasibility study, demonstrable progress on the potential recovery of zinc and lead concentrates from the tailings using a leach processing methodology. We now have the opportunity to realise significant value from the washplant and leach plant deposits, commencing with the establishment of a pilot plant scheduled for later this year," said Berkeley Chairman Alex Borrelli.

Berkeley shares are currently suspended.

By Sam Unsted; samunsted@alliancenews.com; @SamUAtAlliance

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