Project overview
About this development
The current underground block cave operation was developed with a plan to deplete the Lift 1 reserve by 2020. The closure of Lift I has been brought forward by five years to December 2015, owing to dilution from the north wall failure. A comprehensive geological, mine and financial study has demonstrated that copper production at Palabora Copper can be extended on an economically rational basis beyond this date with the construction of a second lift underground block cave operation, known as Lift II. Estimated project value : R9.3 billion. The Lift 2 footprint is approximately 550m long x 250m wide for a hydraulic radius of approximately 85m. Cave propagation is commenced by advanced undercutting and the extraction level, located 18m below the undercut level has 17 production cross cuts for a total of 430 draw points. The coarse primary fragmentation of the cave material is dealt with two underground crusher chambers located approximately 80m offset from the cave footprint. Key Aspect: Offset herringbone layout extraction level. Advanced undercutting using an inclined ‘crinkle cut’ layout. Excavation and civil works for two crusher chambers at a depth of 1,650m below surface. Twin declines, man access and fixed conveyor, both 3.6km long to connect Lift 2 with the existing hoisting shaft. Two 6.2m diameter ventilation shafts, 1,200m long. GPS coordinates lat: -23.9965569; long: 31.1157623.
Project at a glance
Lift II Copper Project, Limpopo is located in Limpopo (015). The project is classified in the Private sector. Its current recorded stage is Complete. The recorded project value is R 200 Million+.