May/June 2013 - The ASIA Miner

Vietnam
THE first ferrotungsten product was lifted at
Hazelwood Resources’ ATC Ferrotungsten
Project near Vinh Bao during the evening shift
on April 11, 2013. This milestone was achieved
within the plant’s hot commissioning
schedule and first revenue was expected by
the end of April. Stage one of the ATC Ferrotungsten
Project has an annual nameplate
capacity of about 4000 tonnes of ferrotungsten
alloy, equivalent to 3000 tonnes of contained
tungsten (at 75% minimum tungsten
content). It is the largest ferrotungsten plant
outside China and the design is believed to
be the most advanced in the world.
Following construction of the ATC Ferrotungsten
Project in 2011/12, Hazelwood’s
subsidiary, Asia Tungsten Products (ATC) finalized
preparations for production by securing
all necessary raw materials and
inventories. Hot commissioning commenced
at the start of April and by mid-April the operations
entered the production phase.
The challenging production process, which
occurs at greater temperatures than other
ferroalloy processes, was successfully implemented
by the experienced team of engineers.
The performance of the new furnace
has been in line with expectations.
All ferrotungsten produced shall be distributed
under a sales agency agreement with
Wogen Resources, which has been involved
ATC plant produces first ferrotungsten
in the trade of minor metals for more than 40
years. It will distribute the product to existing
network of customers. Outside of China,
there is limited production capacity for the
master alloy, which is used in the production
of high speed steels, tool steels and temperature
resistant alloys.
The ATC Ferrotungsten Project was constructed
under-budget and represents a capital-efficient
entry into specialty metal
production with the opportunity to launch into
other downstream processing ventures.
Hazelwood is an emerging specialty metals
producer with a majority stake in the ATC
project. Starting as a refining operation that
utilizes externally sourced feedstock, there is
potential for integration with Hazelwood’s
proposed Big Hill tungsten deposit in Western
Australia. Big Hill is an advanced project
with an open pittable 12-year JORC ore reserve
and is capable of producing an exceptionally
pure tungsten feedstock.
The furnace lighting ceremony to mark the start of hot commissioning at Hazelwood Resources’ ATC Ferrotungsten Project.
Ban Phuc on track for June commissioning
CONSTRUCTION of Asian Mineral Resources’
(AMR) Ban Phuc Nickel Project continues
to progress rapidly towards the June
2013 target commissioning date. In particular,
the ball mill, the last piece of major equipment,
is now mounted on site. The
construction of the tailings storage facility
continues ahead of schedule and is expected
to be completed in May 2013, as planned.
AMR has retained an Australian mining contactor
to ensure efficient commencement of
mining at the project. The mining contractor is
mobilizing equipment and personnel to the Ban
Phuc site, and mining operations were scheduled
to recommence by the end of April. Due
to the existing underground infrastructure already
in place at Ban Phuc, mining is immediately
focusing on production of nickel ore
ready for commissioning of the process plant.
The project is 160km northwest of Hanoi
in the Son La Province, which is 90%-
owned by AMR’s subsidiary Ban Phuc Nikkel
Mines LLC. AMR is also making pleasing
progress with obtaining key remaining permits,
including:
• The approval of the updated project feasibility
study by the Ministry of Industry and Trade;
• The approval of the company’s updated
environmental impact assessment and environmental
remediation and rehabilitation
plan by the Ministry of Natural Resources
and Environment; and
• The issuance of the water use permit for the
Ban Phuc project by the Son La Department
of Natural Resources and Environment.
The recent receipt of these approvals demonstrates
the ongoing support received by
AMR from the Government of the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam.
The company’s CEO Simon Booth says,
“We are extremely pleased with the ongoing
progress of the Ban Phuc Nickel Project towards
production. In particular, the selection
of an experienced mining contractor significantly
de-risks a key element of the operations.
In addition, the ongoing high-level of
support AMR has received from both the
central and provincial bodies of the Government
of Vietnam, as well as the continued
support of its major shareholders have been
highly encouraging.”
May/June 2013 | ASIA Miner | 35