Mine yields first copper concentrate

A new copper mine on the verge of being commissioned in Botswana has produced its first concentrate.

The milestone at Motheo mine, located in the Kalahari Copper Belt, marks the mine’s ramp-up towards an initial, sustainable capacity of 3.2 million tons a year by September 2024.

Owned by Australia’s Sandfire Resources, the mine will deliver 30 000 tons a year of contained copper and 1.2 million ounces of contained silver over an initial mine life of 12.5 years, reports Mining Weekly.

The mine has already produced more than 270 000 tons of ore at 1.1% copper, and 130 000 tons of around 0.7% copper, which is being stored on its run-of-mine pad.

The first concentrate was produced with the commissioning of the mine’s semi-autogenous grinding mill.