JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – After completing project financing for its Lesotho-based Liqhobong diamond mine in May, Aim-listed Firestone Diamonds has started construction of the project’s main treatment plant and supporting infrastructure, with a view to ensure that the 300 000 t/m mine is completed within budget by the first half of 2016.
Firestone said in a market update on Thursday that it had started decommissioning and removing the existing pilot plant, which was about 30% complete.
The engineering, procurement, construction and management (EPCM) contracts had been signed or agreed, while general site earthworks, which included widening and rerouting the site access road, building the residue slimes retaining wall and early civil works, had also started.
Importantly, overhead power line and main substation mobilisation had begun, with the first mining fleet already installed safely on site.
Further, major-equipment, long-lead items had been approved by the tender board committee and contracts had been placed, with major equipment deliveries having been aligned to the company's current baseline development schedule.
To date, about 73% of the EPCM budget had been committed. 