Name and Location
Trident copper/nickel project, North West province, Zambia.

Client
Kalumbila Minerals, a subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals (FQM).

FQM acquired the project in January 2010 through its acquisition of Zambia-focused explorer Kiwara for an estimated amount of $279-million.

Project Description
The project lies about 140 km west of the town of Solwezi and 150 km from the Kansanshi copper mine, in northern Zambia. It comprises three distinct areas of mineralisation – Sentinel, Enterprise and Intrepid.

Geological drilling and evaluation continue at each of these targets and it is planned that Sentinel will be developed first, followed by Enterprise and then Intrepid. Each area is individually seen as a significant mine development, which will likely extend over a period of 22 years.

The Sentinel mine is envisioned to target sulphide ores, which will be processed on site, to produce a 30% copper concentrate, which will then be transported to smelters in Zambia for extraction and refining of copper (Cu).

The Enterprise operation will focus on nickel ore, containing about 1% nickel. Assuming a 90% recovery, nickel production will be 18 000 t/y.

The Intrepid mine will target copper ore at two-million tons a year.

The proposed 50-million-ton-a-year copper sulphide concentrator and associated plant infrastructure will consist of maintenance workshops, mining facilities, a tailings storage facility and associated administration offices.

Additional amenities required include roads, power and water supply, as well as a significant housing facility.

Value
The Sentinel mine and the smelter project will require a capital investment of more than $2.4-billion.

Duration
Following a two-year design and construction phase, the Sentinel mine will be commissioned by early 2014.

The current mine life is estimated at 12 years, or until 2026, when the Enterprise mine will be brought on line, with ore treated at Sentinel over a five-year period, until 2032.

Intrepid will then provide ore feed for a further five years until 2036.

This timeframe is expected to increase further, as it is highly likely that additional geological resources will be identified in the Trident region.

Latest Developments
The Zambian government has permitted First Quantum to restart construction of its Sentinel copper project, which was halted this year because environmental concerns.

Government ordered First Quantum in May to stop the construction of a dam, a vital source of water for the Sentinel project .

The Environmental Ministry will allow First Quantum to proceed with building the dam, although it will continue to study the impact of the construction, it said in a document dated July 18.

As a result, First Quantum will no longer need to shed 500 jobs, as was initially planned when construction of the dam was halted.

The company will double the work rate to ensure the copper mine is completed by the company's stipulated deadline of 2014.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Coastal & Environmental Services and Resettlement & Development Solutions, on behalf of the Environmental Council of Zambia (environmental-impact assessment).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
FQM president Clive Newall, tel +44 14 0327 3484, fax +44 14 0327 3494 or email clive.newall@fqml.com.