Update26 Feb 2019 07:31
07.30: not just the PR which sleeps in here;-)
26 February 2019
Ormonde Mining plc
("Ormonde" or "the Company")
Ore Mining and Processing Underway at Barruecopardo
The Board of Ormonde ("the Board") is pleased to provide an update on the construction and commissioning of the Barruecopardo Tungsten Project in Salamanca, Spain ("Barruecopardo" or "the Project"), where the Company holds a 30% interest.
Open pit mining of surface tungsten ore zones commenced in January, and the crush and screen plant has been commissioned using ore to produce the fine ore stockpile for feeding into the process plant. The commissioning stages of the process plant have been advancing and the first ore has now been introduced to the process plant. This activity will continue during the following weeks, including producing tungsten concentrates, which will lead on to a progressive transition from the commissioning phase into the gradual ramp-up of production at Barruecopardo.
Key recent progress includes:
· Crush and screen plant and water treatment plant commissioning completed and handed over to operating team;
· Process plant:
o Installation of equipment and supporting structures materially complete, with some de-snagging ongoing;
o Dry commissioning and water commissioning both complete in most areas;
o Following some slippage in the schedule, commissioning has now progressed to commencement of ore processing and this "hot commissioning" will continue during the remainder of February and into March.
· Initial open pit mining operations underway in the north starter pit, and waste stripping of the east wall of the historic open pit also in progress;
· Installation of pumps ongoing in the water dams;
· Recent site photos can be seen on Ormonde's website at the following link http://ormondemining.com/timeline-in-pictures/.
Michael Donoghue, Ormonde's Chairman and Interim Managing Director, commented:
"Activities at Barruecopardo have been advancing well, with mining of ore for the process plant commencing in early January, and plant dry and wet commissioning mostly complete, with ore now being introduced to the process plant.
"These are significant milestones for the Project, and we look forward to seeing ore commissioning progress during the weeks ahead and the successful transition into the Project's production phase."