The ASIA Miner - Reporting Important Issues to Mining Companies in the Asia Pacific Region
Issue link: https://asiaminer.epubxp.com/i/830355
46 | ASIA Miner | Volume 14 • Issue 2 | 2017 Russia AMUR Minerals has more than one million tonnes of nickel classified at its Kun-Manie Nickel Project in Far East Russia after the latest resource upgrade. There was a 38% increase in total tonnage fol- lowing an extensive drill program at two of the possible five targets. The total resource is 101.3 million tonnes at a grade of 1.03%, which equates to 1.04 million tonnes with a value of US$10.5 billion at current prices. More than 80% of the resource is classified as in the higher confidence measured and indicated categories. Amur's CEO Robin Young said that based on this information it could produce 40,000 to 60,000 nickel tonnes a year, which would place it at number eight in the list of the world's nickel producers. He added that with the latest resource it can now identify mining ore reserves available for both an open pit and underground opera- tion. "It is rare to see a junior resource company have such a large asset with so much of it drilled to such a high level of confidence." Meantime, Amur has completed the full restock and mobilisation of newly purchased machinery, spares and supplies for its 2017 Kun-Manie field season. The largest resupply effort ever undertaken on the project began on February 18 and was completed on April 7. Early initiation of the 350km-long ice road construction allowed nine convoys to position the company for full implementation of the field program. Among the items delivered and deployed are a Cat- erpillar D6RII dozer, Caterpillar 320D2L excavator, water well drill rig, truck mounted crane, personnel carrier, fuel truck, drop-side truck and portable man cabins. In addition, more than 400 tonnes of summer and winter fuel have been delivered. This is a significant increase over 2016 and en- hances the company's ability to expand operations at Kun-Manie deposit and its adjacent water exploration licence where it is antici- pated that the mill will be constructed. A comprehensive restock of drill supplies, spare parts and food was also completed. The site is now in the final stages of prepara- tion for full summer field crew component of nearly 90 individuals. Field operations are anticipated to begin by end of May and the plan is to drill between 15,000 and 20,000 metres. TIGERS Realm Coal continues to ramp-up operations since com- mencing coal production in December 2016 at Project F within its Amaam Coking Coal Project in eastern Russia. Coal is being trucked to stockpiles at the company-owned Beringovsky Port. The company says the ramp-up period has been in line with bud- get and coal production steadily improving and the site team con- tinues work on improving performance. During the first few months of the year the mining and coal trans- port to port operations continued with Tigers Realm saying that the site operating systems and mine planning are working well. Coal quality delivered to port is also in line with company expectations. In December there were 3600 tonnes of coal delivered to port, in January this increased to 21,200 tonnes and in February 23,300 tonnes. An additional 12,000 tonnes of coal had been delivered to intermediate stockpiles near the pit. After accounting for trucking days lost due to poor weather con- ditions, average daily coal trucking performance improved by 27% from 920 tonnes in January to 1167 tonnes in February. Tigers Realm says that by necessity initial coal production has come from the lowest quality coal containing weathered materials near surface, and better quality coals will be mined going forward. The company plans to blend its thermal coals for 2017 shipping to target the sale of a typical calorific value coal of 6000 kcal/kg net as received (NAR). Two tenements, Amaam and Amaam North, together comprise the Amaam Coking Coal Project, which is within 35km of the Bering Sea coast in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, far eastern Russia. Tigers Realm has 80% ownership of Amaam and has signed a Heads of Agreement which will see its 80% ownership of Amaam North increase to 100%. Binding documents have been prepared and will be signed pending some administrative restructuring re- quirements in process. The company owns 100% of the Beringovsky Port and Coal Ter- minal, 35km to the northeast of the Amaam North tenement. Amaam and Amaam North have combined JORC compliant coal resources of 632 million tonnes with the majority of these resources being of coking coal quality. Project F, which is within Amaam North, has 110.6 million tonnes of coal resources, 16.1 million tonnes of which have already been classified as JORC-compliant Product (Marketable) Reserves. Tigers Realm ramps up Amaam production The 350km-long ice road has been initiated to allow for the 2017 field pro- gram at Kun-Manie Nickel Project. Increase in Kun-Manie nickel resource