On March 20, the combined trial run of milling & flotation plant was completed successfully at Lonshi Copper Mine.
The main motor, clutch and main motor combined cylinders of mill were consecutively switched on and went into operation after operators in the control room pressed the start button. All indicators were within normal range for 15 minutes demonstrating the successful startup operation. During the 2-hour test run, 2#, 3#, 4# and 5# conveyor belts were operated consecutively in a combined way; 48 flotation machines and pump sumps, agitation tanks and cyclones in the flotation plant were connected to each other with water. Crew involved in the test run paid close attention to the operation conditions of all equipment and recorded the parameters every half an hour. The relevant data demonstrated that all equipment ran in a stable way during the commissioning, marking a complete success.
Two mills are the core equipment of dressing plant at Lonshi Copper Mine. Sabwe Mining SARL (Sabwe) attached great importance to safety, quality as well as progress control of the plant from the start, organized works in a scientific and efficient way, and overcame difficulties in logistics brought by the pandemic in order to deliver the plant soonest and with highest quality.
Prior to the commissioning, Sabwe management went underground to command, engineers of different disciplines made joint efforts with the technicians and mechanics from relevant parties to develop the test run plan, designated personnels were tasked to identify, report and solve any problem at designated places in a timely way, special meetings over the commissioning were held to demonstrate every step and strengthen communication, and workers participating in the commissioning were trained in the aspects of process, safety and equipment operation to ensure the trouble-free commissioning.
Earthworks for dressing plant began in November, 2021; the concrete pouring of floor for two mills were completed in February, 2022; the concrete pouring of main foundation completed in June and steel structure installation and hoisting of semi-autogenous mill (SAM) cylinder completed in August; the installation of two mills and service equipment installed in October. In January, 2#, 3#, 4# and 5# conveyor belts and flotation machines were installed successively. On February 28, HV substation (11KV) for mill and flotation received power transmission. In March, the installation of vertical milling machine, backing plate of SAM, water-supply pump station and pipelines for process water was completed. The combined commissioning of 1# to 5# conveyor belts, separate commissioning of flotation machine and the installation of ball mill backing plate were finished consecutively.
