Masimong Gold Mine (Masimong 5)

 mine, production, gold mine

This is the Mining Right for shaft 5 portion of the Masimong Gold Mine which is owned and operated by Harmony Gold (as of Feb 2011). Masimong, which is in the central Free State, consists of an operating shaft – 5 shaft – and 4 shaft which, although closed, is used for ventilation, pumping and as a second outlet. Ore mined at Masimong is processed at the Harmony 1 Plant around 23 kilometres away. Conventional drilling, blasting and scraping operations are focussed on the Basal and B reefs. The shafts are intermediate in depth, extending to around 2 300 metres.

Masimong employed 3 205 in FY10, of which 3 067 were employees and 138 contractors.

Operations review

Volumes milled increased marginally year-on-year by 1% to 899 000 tonnes and grades were maintained. Consequently, gold produced was also 1% up at 155 609 ounces.

Maintaining grades on the B Reef proved challenging as mining moved out of the high-grade channels while those mined on the Basal Reef generally remained constant. Nevertheless grades were maintained overall for the year at 5.38g/t. Productivity levels improved to average 28.81t/TEC for the year.

The infrastructural upgrade, which began in FY09 and included improved resource management and the installation of new tracks, locomotives and compressors, was completed in FY10. Masimong will reap the benefits of this upgrade by way of improved productivity, efficiencies and output in coming years.

Ventilation is a challenge at Masimong as the booster fans currently installed themselves generate heat and consume electricity. Steps are being taken to counter this. Pressure doors have been installed as an interim measure and a new ventilation system is being installed.

A new refrigeration plant is to be installed by September 2011 at a cost of R61 million. Following the upgrade programme, full production is scheduled for 2012 at a forecast average rate of annual production of around 158 000 ounces at an average grade of 5.11g/t. To help achieve this, face advances are planned to increase from 2m2/TEC to 7m2/TEC and every effort has been made to ensure that panels are well equipped and crews motivated, and steps have been taken to overcome the erratic grade of the B reef.

Reference for information:
www.har.co.za/masimong.htm
www.har.co.za/businessreview_mineral_freestate.htm