:: Bindura Nickel Spends US$7 Million on New Equipment

Mwana Africa’s Bindura Nickel Corporation (BNC) has spent US$7 million in acquiring new equipment and refurbishing existing machinery as the company seeks to grow its business.

BNC managing director Batirai Manhando said this week new mobile plant equipment has been purchased and this, together with the equipment that has been refurbished, will enable mining to start ramping up to steady state monthly targets during the last quarter ended December 2014.

“We have spent between US$6 million and US$7 million capital in acquiring new equipment and refurbishing our machinery. We purchased dump trucks, rigs and long haul dumps” said Manhando.

Nickel in concentrate production was 30% lower at 1,383 tonnes in the third quarter down from 1,989 tonnes obtained in the second quarter.

Manhango said this was mainly attributed to equipment refurbishment exercise alongside the ongoing maintenance which reduced resources available for mining development and restricted access to massives.

This resulted in a 23% drop in mill head grade with recoveries down 2% than in September as a result of the lower nickel head grade.