Photo by: Bloomberg
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Copper miner Discovery Metals Limited (DML) has reported its best quarter since mining operations started at the Boseto copper mine, in Botswana.
The mine delivered 5 367 t of copper in concentrate during the quarter ended June, which included record monthly production of 2 011 t achieved in April. The quarterly production was a 25% increase on the previous comparable period.
DML said the fourth-quarter results reflected the continued focus on initiatives to increase mined volumes at Boseto, as well as to improve recoveries and reduce production costs.
These initiatives would remain a priority for the full 2015 year, DML said.
Meanwhile, DML was also continuing with work on its Zeta underground mine, at the Boseto project, and the construction designs for the initial two years of development for the mine were on track for completion by the second quarter of 2015.
At steady levels, the Zeta underground mine would produce about 1.5-million tonnes a year, at 1.3% copper.
DML’s ultimate objective was to be able to supply sufficient ore from three planned underground mines to keep the 3.2-million-tonne-a-year Boseto concentrator at maximum throughput and efficiency.