QMASTOR Limited (ASX: QML) - The leading supplier of bulk material management information systems and services - announced today that it has secured a contract with Assmang Limited for the provision of its Pit to Port.net and iFuse systems for installation at Assmang’s Khumani iron ore project in South Africa.
The Khumani project involves the development of a greenfields 8.4-million tonnes per year iron ore export mine in the Northern Cape adjacent to Kumba’s Sishen Iron Ore Mine. A second-phase expansion to 16.8-million tonnes per year is already being considered by 2011/12. The Khumani mine will replace Assmang’s current Beeshoek iron ore mine which is reaching the end of its economic life. The Khumani resources are amongst the best iron ore resources in South Africa in terms of quality and quantity. Based on current reserves a new mine producing 16.8 million tonnes per annum would have a life in excess of about 25 years.
The iron ore will be mined from a series of open pits by conventional drill, blast and loading into trucks for hauling to the primary and secondary crushers. From there, it will be transferred by conveyor to stockpiles ahead of the beneficiation plant. The run-of-mine ore will be stockpiled on blending beds in two categories, 'on grade' and 'off grade'. On-grade material will then be washed and screened to produce the final products incorporating tertiary crushing of the oversize material from the screening plant. Off-grade material will also be washed and screened and the oversized material crushed in the tertiary crushers and, thereafter, beneficiated through jigs to remove contaminants. Products will be stockpiled ahead of a rapid load-out station, which will load 342 x 100-ton wagons. The product will be exported via the 860 km Sishen-Saldanha railway line to the port of Saldanha Bay on South Africa’s West Coast.
Steve Maxwell, General Manager of QMASTOR Limited stated “The selection of Pit to Port by Assmang reflects the growing acknowledgement by the global iron ore industry of the value which QMASTOR’s systems and services add to their businesses.”
“The solution for Assmang Khumani includes inventory management and grade control across the mine site and includes integration with Gemcom’s Surpac resource model, Wonderware’s InTouch historian, Mincom’s CCLAS laboratory information system and a number of Scantech Geoscan online analysers.”
Trent Bagnall, Managing Director of QMASTOR Limited stated “QMASTOR welcomes the opportunity to partner with Assmang, African Rainbow Minerals and Assore to add value to their businesses and establish a significant presence in the booming African resources sector.”
About Assmang Limited
Assmang Limited ("Assmang"), a company incorporated in the Republic of South Africa, mines manganese and iron ores in the Northern Cape Province and chrome ore at Dwarsrivier in the Mpumalanga Province. It also produces manganese alloys at its works at Cato Ridge in the Kwazulu-Natal Province, and chrome alloys at its works at Machadodorp, in the Mpumalanga Province.
Formed in 1935, the Group employs 2,865 permanent employees. Assmang is jointly owned by African Rainbow Minerals Limited (JSE: ARI - 50%) and Assore Limited (JSE: ASR - 50%).
About QMASTOR Limited
QMASTOR Limited (ASX: QML) is a market leader in the provision of specialist management information systems and services to the global mining, port, power generation and other bulk commodity industries. QMASTOR has pioneered innovative solutions to empower clients to improve their operations and maximise profit through the efficient use of resources across the supply chain.
For further information contact: Steve Maxwell – General Manager
Phone: +61 (2) 4908 2222
Email: smaxwell@qmastor.com
Web: www.qmastor.com