Kenmare Resources announced this Thursday (11) that it has begun work to connect two new dredges and the feed preparation unit to Wet Concentrator Plant A (WCP A), as part of a modernization project at its Moma titanium minerals mine in Nampula, northern Mozambique.
The company is upgrading its largest processing plant at the Moma titanium minerals mine in preparation for the transition to the Nataka ore zone – the largest ore deposit in the Moma portfolio, representing about 70% of its mineral resources.
According to a statement from the titanium and zircon producer, the estimated capital cost for the WCP A modernization project and the transition to Nataka remains at $341 million, including the construction of a new tailings storage facility and infrastructure at Nataka.
The company expects about 80% of this capital to be spent and applied by the end of 2025.
It is anticipated that by the end of 2025, WCP A will be operating at a capacity of 3,500 tons per hour. The unit is expected to complete its mining path at Namalope in the second quarter of 2026 and begin the transition to Nataka at the end of the same quarter, a process expected to last around 18 months.
“We are pleased to announce that work has begun to connect the two new dredges and the new feed preparation unit to WCP A. This modernization will enable WCP A to successfully mine the vast Nataka ore zone, which is critical to Moma’s future production,” said Chief Operating Officer Ben Baxter.
“Our projects team and experienced contractors have meticulously planned this work, and we remain focused on executing it safely, on schedule, and within budget,” he added.
According to Kenmare Resources, WCP A will mine Nataka throughout the remaining economic life of the operation, which is expected to exceed 20 years. The company noted that the ore in that region contains higher levels of slimes, which could affect feed and recovery rates if not properly managed.
To address these slimes and increase mining rates, Kenmare is upgrading Wet Concentrator Plant A with two new high-capacity dredges and a feed preparation module.
Source: Diário Económico
