Copper miner Sandfire Resources has officially opened its Motheo copper mine, in Botswana.
A final investment decision on the $259-million Motheo mine was taken in December 2020 and first concentrate from the mine was produced in May this year.
The base-case Motheo operation requires a capital investment of $259-million, and based on a 3.2-million-tonne-a-year operation, would deliver 30 000 t/y of contained copper and 1.2-million ounces of contained silver over an initial mine life of 12.5 years.
The project is expected to ramp up its initial throughput rate to 3.2-million tonnes rate, to produce 30 000 t/y of contained copper and 1.2-million ounces of contained silver over an initial mine life of 12.5 years. Motheo’s inaugural shipment is currently scheduled for August.
Sandfire is now working to increase production capacity to 5.2-million tonnes a year, which will increase yearly copper production to 50 000 t by 2025.
“The official opening ceremony marks an important milestone for Sandfire and provides an opportunity to acknowledge the community, our people and the many contractors who have contributed to the timely and safe development of our newest operation,” said Sandfire MD and CEO Brendan Harris.
“The official opening of the Motheo copper mine solidifies our strategic position in the highly prospective Kalahari Copper Belt. As we sharpen our exploration focus on near-mine targets, we see significant potential to extend the life of Motheo and be a contributor to the local economy for decades to come.”
