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By Kaixi Jiang, Bangsheng Zhang, Lei Zhang, Haibei Wang, Xiaoping Zou

"China plays an important role in the global molybdenum industry; in fact, both China's molybdenum mine and smelter production ranked first in the world. The characteristics of China's molybdenum resources are quite complex, and moly-nickel ores with carbon, coppermoly ores and wulfenite can be only found in China. This paper firstly introduces China's molybdenum resource/ reserve situation. Secondly, the status of molybdenum smelting technologies, especially roasting by rotary kilns and multiple-hearth furnaces, are discussed. The practices and the development of some new technologies, such as pressure leaching, solvent extraction, ion exchange, carbon adsorption for moly-nickel ores and low grade molybdenite concentrates, are also introduced.IntroductionMolybdenum is widely used in special steels, aviation, alloys, chemistry, electronic and medical industries because of its excellent physical and chemical characters [1,2].In nature, molybdenum exists mainly as molybdenite associated with copper ore which are the main material for smelting. About 99% of molybdenum is produced from molybdenite. In addition, wulfenite, molybdenum oxide ore and graphite shale containing Mo-Ni have also industrial value to extract molybdenum and other metals such as Ni, Re, Pb and Zn. The reserves of molybdenum in China are about 8.4 million tons metal; China is ranked as the second largest source in the world. The output in China is more than 40 kt in 2010. Ferromolybdenum is the main product and then ammonium molybdate. The consumption in China is about 20 kt and the rest is exported to overseas.The first molybdenum smelter in China was built in 1963. Today the main producers include Jinduicheng Moly Company, Luanchuan Moly Company and Jiangxi Copper Group Company. Technologies and equipment have changed greatly. Roasting and multi-hearth furnaces are widely used. Several new processes were developed such as pressure leaching, solvent extraction, ion exchange and carbon absorption [3-8]."

Jan 1, 2012

By V. I. Lakshmanan, R. Roy

"Zinc is the fourth most widely used metal in the world after iron, aluminum and copper. The primary zinc production is through flotation of zinc concentrate, roasting, leaching and electrowinning. Close to 60% of the metal produced is consumed in galvanizing the steel by making a thin layer of zinc coating on the steel surface by hot dip galvanizing. Process Research ORTECH Inc. has developed an efficient energy-saving sustainable technology for the recovery of zinc from secondary sources such as galvanized steel scrap, dross, dusts etc. The process consists of treating the zinc containing scrap in an alkaline solution to remove the zinc and thereby producing a zinc free steel scrap for recycle. The zinc containing leach liquor is subjected to a solvent extraction process to recover value added zinc oxide as the final product. In this paper, important industrial processes for the recycling of zinc including the PRO process will be discussed. BACKGROUNDZinc is the fourth most widely used metal in the world after iron, aluminum and copper. Global refined zinc output increased by 2.7 per cent to 13.16 million tonnes in 2011 and is expected to increase by an additional 2.4 per cent to 13.48 million tonnes in 2012 [1]. The primary zinc production is through flotation of zinc concentrate, roasting, leaching and electrowinning. Close to 60% of the metal produced is consumed in galvanizing steel by making a thin layer of zinc coating on the steel surface by hot dip galvanizing. Other major usages of zinc are in the production of brass and bronze, die casting and zinc-air batteries. The additional demand for zinc could come from its addition to fertilizers to increase crop yield.While the demand for zinc is increasing, many mines are scheduled to close in near future after being depleted of ore. The mines set to close between now and 2015 are Teck Resources’ Red Dog Mine in Alaska, Minmetals’ Century Mine in Australia and Vedanta Resource’s Skorpion Mine in Namibia [1]. The depletion of resources due to continued use and exploitation is becoming a great concern for the zinc industry. As a result, the sustainability of natural resources for continued societal care has become extremely important. Resource conservation and recovery by recycling with minimal environmental impact is a key element for sustainable development. In this paper, important industrial processes for the recycling of zinc including the PRO process are presented."

Jan 1, 2012

The AG/SAG circuit discharge P80 is now increasingly referred to as the “Transfer Size” or T80 for short. From the literature it is apparent that in circuit design some approaches to the sizing of AG/SAG mills as well as the ball mills that they feed use this parameter. This paper reviews whether the use of the T80 is appropriate in this context. In the course of the review examples of AG/SAG discharge size distributions measured from range of operating circuits are used to illustrate the arguments made.

Jan 1, 2012

By Justin Karl, Ali Gordon, James DeMarco, Yongho Sohn

"Aluminum metal-matrix composites are lightweight materials that have the potential to supplant steel in many applications. The current work helps to identify the parameters that confer maximal strength and ductility. Torsion tests were performed on the as-cast aluminum metal-matrix composite A359-SiCp-30% at a variety of temperatures and twist rates. Dependence of material properties on temperature and strain rate were identified from equivalent stress-strain curves constructed from the reduced data. Examination of the microstructure was performed on the as-cast material and on fracture surfaces. A temperature-and strain rate-dependent constitutive model was applied to simulation of the mechanical response of the torsion specimen. Trends in material properties corroborate and extend trends identified previously under tensile loading with regard to temperature and strain rate dependence. Shear properties of simulated specimens agree with properties obtained through experimentation.IntroductionAluminum metal-matrix composites (A1-MMCs) have become increasingly popu1ar in recent years. While unreinforced aluminum alloys have low densities and high ductilities, they are not suitable for many applications due to their lack of strength and stiffness. To provide added strength and stiffness while maintaining favorable densities, it has become common to reinforce aluminum alloys with silicon carbide in various forms, although usually the inclusions are in the form of whiskers or particles. The result is a composite material with superior specific strength and stiffness. While whisker-reinforced composites are expensive due to the necessity of processing by nonstandard techniques and have low transverse properties when rolled, particle reinforced Al-MMCs have transverse material property values almost as high as the longitudinal properties and are not as expensive to process as whisker-reinforced Al-MMCs [1]."

Jan 1, 2012

By S. Burks

This paper develops the themes explained at the previous SAIMM Platinum conference by Whittle and Burks1. Optimization techniques can be used to significantly increase the value of mining businesses by enabling better long- term planning decisions. Open pit and underground mine design, mine scheduling, cut-off grade and blending, stockpiling, and the linking of these to flexible elements of the metallurgical recovery processes are all evaluated together. Transport or sale of intermediate products and the requirements of the product metal markets can also be considered. Experience shows that net present value (NPV) can potentially be increased by 5-35 per cent or more, usually even before the expenditure of significant amounts of project capital. The case studies presented include: ? An existing operation with multiple open pits and PGM concentrators linked to offsite downstream processing facilities, and with infrastructure constraints for which the scheduling of current operations and the potential for expansion were investigated ? An existing operation with an integrated portfolio of mines, concentrators, smelter and refinery, for which the various possible sources of ore for processing were prioritized to match the downstream process plant constraints and the product markets ? An underground operation in Zimbabwe for which the optimum mining width was calculated and expansion plans were evaluated ? An underground mine with many separate mining sections, for which a revised schedule was developed aiming to keep the shaft system and processing plant at capacity with the highest net value material available at any time throughout the life of mine. In the concluding section of the paper, a few brief notes are included suggesting how the strategic recommendations from enterprise optimization studies may be implemented by the Owner?s team.

Jan 1, 2012

By V. L. Richards, S. N. Lekakh, S. A. Dutler

"This study presents determination on the thermal properties of investment casting shell molds used in casting process modeling. Superheat and latent heat from solidification and cooling of a casting can either be accumulated by ceramic shell for thin-walled casting or transfer to environment for massive casting. Heat capacity and thermal conductivity both play important roles in casting solidification. Thermal properties of ceramic shell depend on shell composition and fabrication techniques as well as thermal history during shell preparation process due to multiple phase transformations. Inverse modeling was combined with corrected Laser Flash method to determine the applicable thermal properties of the shell during casting solidification. Pure nickel was poured into ceramic shells containing two thermocouples and experimental cooling curves were obtained. These curves were then fitted to the model by adjusting temperature dependent heat capacity and thermal conductivity.IntroductionCasting solidification in investment casting shell affected by shell thermal properties including specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity. For relatively thin walled casting, most of the melt superheat and part of latent heat are accumulated by the shell. This process is mainly controlled by shell heat capacity. In the case of massive casting, significant part of latent heat transfers to environment through the shell so that this process is mainly controlled by shell thermal conductivity."

Jan 1, 2012

By Rob Lederer, Chris Batten

Traditionally coal model digital terrain models (DTM) are created from lithological information obtained from broad scale exploration holes. The grid layout and distance between holes means that models do not commonly display local variations of seam dip, faulting and shearing. Due to this, issues can often arise when designing the loading of blast patterns based on potential variances between model and actual coal seam locations. Many sites will often attempt to create more accurate models through the collection of data from coal edge pickups on highwalls and in blast faces, along with information recorded by drillers (touch coal holes) from both production and presplit holes for both the current and previous blasts.

Jan 1, 2012

By Chen Wen, Li Zhao-jia, Zhao Qiang, Ning Shun-ming, Tang Sanchuan, Wang Hong-qiang

"The carbon-burdened and cold-bonded pelletizing-electrosmelting process is used to dispose low-grade manganese, and the qualified rich-manganese slag is obtained. On the condition that reduction roasting temperature was 1000?, reduction time was 45min, particle-size was -1mm, reductant dosage was 1.6%, basicity was 0.3, smelting temperature was 1410?, smelting time was 60min, it had a good effect on the melting between slag and metallographic phase, the manganese content was 32.58%, manganese recovery was 92.16% in the slag; while the iron content was 94.40%, iron recovery was 95.32% in the metallographic phase. It was proved by the demonstration tests.IntroductionManganese is an important raw material for steelmaking, which is extensively utilized in modern industry, the consumption of manganese for iron and steel industry accounts for 90% to 95%. After mining over 30 years, the high-grade manganese resources drop markedly, especially with the hypergrowth of steel industry, the domestic manganese is far from the requirement, as a result, we have to buy significant quantities of manganese overseas. Besides, the property of imported manganese is more and more complex, and the high-grade and lump manganese decrease year by year, while the fines and high-crystal water manganese are on the increase. Therefore, how to make effective use of domestic low-grade manganese and intensify the manganese’s smelting is an effective approach to reduce the cost of manganese series ferroalloy and improves market competitiveness[1-4]. It has important practical meaning."

Jan 1, 2012

By G. Banini

Prior to installation of High Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR) at PT Freeport Indonesia (PT-FI) a series of laboratory tests were carried out to determine the design parameters and also determine key performance indicators (KPIs) for the industrial unit. The design parameters derived from the lab test work were then scaled up to estimate the industrial capacity of the HPGRs to be installed. These parameters include specific power draw, specific throughput, and specific force, rolls speed, product size distribution and wear rate of the rolls. This paper compares the performance of the scale-up procedure against the installed industrial size HPGR. Overall, the specific throughput of the industrial size HPGR is higher by a minimum of 30% compared to the expected scale-up value. As a result of the high specific throughput, the specific power draw and grind sizes are below the scale-up expectations in the commercial application. The impact of these factors also contribute to a lower than expected wear rate on the industrial rolls. Installed rolls achieved a service life in excess of 18,500 hours relative to the target of 6,850 hours predicted from the laboratory testing.

Jan 1, 2012

By A. P. Cook

Gas samples were taken from a wide range of target areas on dumps arising from coal mining activities. Some of the dumps had largely burned out, some were still burning, some were in the process of rehabilitation, and on others rehabilitation was essentially complete. It was found that rehabilitation was very effective in reducing emissions to tolerable levels. Even incomplete rehabilitation reduced the CO2 emissions to less than about 1 kg/m2/a, whereas some unrehabilitated areas showed emissions of over 100 kg/m2/a. Some areas where there was active combustion taking place were also sampled, and they showed as much as 7 000 kg/m2/a, but the areas concerned were very small and their total contribution accordingly low. Analyses were also made for SOx, NOx, NH3, and CH4, but these were generally (and unexpectedly) at very low levels. The mines sampled represented 53 per cent of all surface coal mining activity. Accordingly the estimated total emissions were scaled up, to arrive at estimates of 1950 000 ± 350 000 t/a C02, 2040 ± 580 t/a SOx, 306 ± 85t/a NOx, and 31 ± 9 t/a NH3 for all surface mines. Methane was detected only from burning coal, and due to the difficulty in sampling, no reliable estimate could be made of these methane emissions.

Jan 1, 2012

By L. Kong, V. G. Papangelakis, L. Li

"The Eh-pH diagram of lithium-titanium-water system at 25°C, 100 °C and 200 °C was constructed. It shows that there exist thermodynamic stability areas of Li2TiO3. This indicates a thermodynamic possibility for the formation of Li2TiO3 in aqueous solution. A hydrothermal process has been applied for the preparation of Li2TiO3 using TiCl4 and LiOH•H2O as raw materials. The prepared samples were examined with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermo-gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The results show that temperature and washing condition have significant effects on the phase composition of the product. Phase-pure Li2TiO3 powders were obtained at 200°C with Li:Ti molar ratio of 2.0.INTRODUCTIONLithium-containing ceramics enriched in 6Li, such as Li2O, LiAlO2, Li4SiO4, Li2ZrO3 and Li2TiO3, are considered as tritium breeding materials (Saito et al., 1998; Roux et al., 1998; Johnson et al., 1998; Hoshino et al., 2002). In view of its admirable properties: low-activation, good thermal stability and thermal conductivity, excellent tritium release performance and reasonable lithium atom density (Kopasz et al., 1994; Roux et al., 1996; Saito et al., 1998; Wu et al., 2008), Li2TiO3 is recognized as one of the most promising candidates of tritium breeding materials. Meanwhile, Li2TiO3, as the precursor of H2TiO3-type lithium absorbent, receives more attention as the development of extracting lithium from salt lakes (Zhong, 2004; Zhang, 2010).Several synthetic techniques have been applied to prepare Li2TiO3 powders, such as solid-state methods (Lulewicz and Roux, 2002; Ramaraghavulu et al., 2011; Mandal et al., 2012), sol-gel processes (Deptula et al., 2002; Lee, 2008) and solution combustion routes (Cruz et al., 2006; Jung et al., 2006; Sinha et al., 2010). A solid-state method may produce a series of problems, including impurity contamination and difficulty in morphology control of the obtained powders, although the process involved is simple. The solgel process is prolonged and usually demands for multi-step reactions, while solution combustion route requires plenty of energy and easily causes product contamination by the fuel used. Owing to its environmentally benign and highly suitable characteristics in fabricating materials, hydrothermal technology has been widely used and became a powerful tool in the field of material synthesis (Yoshimura and Byrappa, 2008). For example, ZnO in the form of bulk single crystals, fine particles and thin films, which is an attractive photoelectric material, was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal process (Sekiguchi et al., 2000; Ohshima et al., 2004). A hydrothermal technique was also used to the preparation of carbon nanotube, which possesses outstanding mechanical, structural and electric properties (Bernholc et al., 1997), and is superior to the commonly used method (Gogotsi and Libera, 2000). There, it provides an option for preparing Li2TiO3. Laumann et al. (Laumann et al., 2010) synthesized cubic a-Li2TiO3 by hydrothermal reaction at 180 °C for 18 h, using TiO2 powder, comprising of anatase and rutile, and lithium hydroxide in de-ionized water. However, the prepared a-Li2TiO3 is extremely unstable with a maximum lithium loss of 75% when treated in bathing experiment."

Jan 1, 2012

By Philip Nash, Jie Zhou, Joshua Blackketter

"Large ingots tend to have internal defects such as shrinkage cavities and porosities, which have to be closed during the cogging stage to ensure sound internal quality of forged parts. In this work, finite element methods were used to simulate open die forging passes, with varying parameters that affect the void closure behavior profoundly. Numerical models ware constructed in ABAQUS, DEFORM and FORGE using data taken from footage of the forging process and material mechanical data obtained from the Gleeble compression tests. Forging variables such as pass rotation, reduction per pass, and feed ratio were studied with intense attention paid on the special properties of H13 steel, so that this study can be applied to solve real world problem.IntroductionCenterline defect closure is a frequently studied but still challenging topic in open die forging industry. In practice, open die forging is employed as an effective hot forming process to make desired shape of metal products as well as to ensure center consolidation of internal defects which result from the casting process. Nowadays, remarkable large forgings have been more and more required to meet industries demand. However, the increase in ingot size has tended to result in considerable macrosegregations and shrinkage cavities or voids, which need to be worked thoroughly during the forging process; but the size of the products and limitations of manufacturing capacity, such as the press load, make it difficult to achieve adequate local deformation to close those defects. Therefore, choosing optimal forging parameters under given work condition to ensure good internal quality of forged products is critically important."

Jan 1, 2012

By H. Wilhelm, W. I. van Drunick

The Anglogold Ashanti (AGA) Navachab single stage SAG mill has provided an excellent setting for incremental optimization. Over the past decades, several interventions have resulted in marked improvements in specific performance; including steel ball scat removal, re-design of the mill lifters, replacement the pebble crusher and cyclone cluster, as well as the use of a vibrating screen in place of a discharge trommel. Recent initiatives now include an operating fine DMS circuit, studies on pre-crushing of the ROM feed and also fine-screening as an alternative to hydrocyclone classification. The current optimized state of the Navachab mill allows it to operate at approximately 20% higher efficiency when compared to mills of similar shell dimensions in gold mining, treating similar ore. This paper describes the systematic improvement of the SAG circuit to its current state.

Jan 1, 2012

"The QEMSCAN system is the third generation of automated mineral analysis systems that began with the QEM*SEM at CSIRO 30 years ago (Butcher et al. 2000). It is now a successful commercial instrument with 39 instruments in operation around the world. Back Scattered Electrons (BSE) and Energy Dispersive (EDS) X-Ray spectra are used to create digital mineral images with mineral identification occurring online. Low-count EDS spectra are used preferentially to BSE brightness, allowing minerals to be accurately identified by chemical composition. Individual minerals or groups of similar compositions are identified by comparison to a comprehensive mineral database incorporated into the QEMSCAN software. Optical mineralogy and Scanning Electron Microscopy is a metallurgists’ tool for determining the ore process mineralogy and delivering a better flowsheet. These techniques have limitations, provide limited information and sometimes fail to provide representative information. In contrast, QEMSCAN provides information on the nature and occurrence of all mineral species present plus the liberation characteristics, looking at thousands of particles in the sample presented. Some of the data presented includes:• Particle and grain sizes• Dominant mineral species• Particle shape• Calculated metal content• Density• Deportment of elements of interest between the mineral phases• Quantitative mineralogy• Mineral associations, locking and liberation• Textural relationships (particle images)It can also be used on concentrates, polished sections or drill core. This is a significant improvement in ore characterisation providing lithology, mineralogy, liberation, ore grade and porosity from a sample. Theoretical grade-recovery curves can be created to be mineralogically limited from QEMSCAN analysis which, when compared with metallurgical results, are valuable in evaluating whether liberation or chemical selectivity is driving flotation performance. A number of case study examples are given where the QEMSCAN had a significant bearing on future project development at an early stage of exploration and mine development."

Jan 1, 2012

By D. Brady

The need for onsite gas monitoring during, or following, a major incident at an underground coal mine has long been recognised. Recommendations from inquiries following Queensland mine disasters have included ?qualified persons and equipment for rapid analysis of gas samples be available in times of emergency? and that ?this may be accomplished by either mobile laboratories or laboratories established in each mining locality.? Following the Moura No. 2 disaster, the Queensland Government allocated funds to Simtars for a mobile laboratory to respond should such a disaster occur again in the future. This vehicle was commissioned in 1997 and has been used at many mine sites under a wide range of scenarios. Simtars, armed with over ten years of operational experience with this mobile laboratory, has taken an active role in the design and construction of a modernised replacement unit. With a twenty point tube bundle system and ultrafast gas chromatograph the result is, arguably, the best equipped mobile gas analysis laboratory for mine emergency response in the world. This paper outlines the features of the new laboratory, its capabilities and the philosophy behind the design and inclusions.

Jan 1, 2012

By C. Zografidis, K. Karalis, E. Devlin, S. Tabouris

"The main parameters affecting energy and electrode consumption in smelting reduction of Greek nickeliferous laterites in submerged arc electric furnaces (E/F) were investigated. Within this framework, the operational data of E/Fs, such as energy consumption indicators, electrode consumption indicators and chemical characteristics of Fe-Ni and slag, were correlated with the physicochemical characteristics of the calcine, produced by roasting reduction of laterite in rotary kilns (R/Ks), such as reduction degree, temperature, chemical composition and granulometry. The results obtained provide a significant input for further research on the modelling of the roasting reduction – smelting reduction process, which is a critical tool for energy optimization.IntroductionThe two main steps of pyrometallurgical treatment of greek nickeliferous laterites for ferronickel production include: i) drying, pre-heating and controlled pre–reduction of laterite ores with solid fuel reducing agents and fuel oil in rotary kilns (R/Ks) for the production of a calcine, and ii) smelting reduction of the calcine in open-bath submerged-arc electric furnaces (E/Fs) for the production of Fe-Ni alloy with 12-16% Ni [1].The energy absorbed from the endothermic reductive reactions of iron, nickel and cobalt oxides (Fe2O3, FeO, NiO and CoO) of the calcine with the remaining carbon in the E/Fs, corresponds to about 16% of the total energy output in the smelting reduction step [1]. This is indicative of the significance of the calcine’s reduction degree for the electric energy requirements in the E/Fs. Moreover, the chemical characteristics and the granulometry of the calcine constitute critical parameters for the energy requirements as well as the smooth operation of the E/Fs."

Jan 1, 2012

By M. K. Patel, K. A. Pericleous, M. Molaei

"The future trading of carbon credits and increased financial cost necessitates substantial cuts in incidental C02 emissions in the production of metals (iron, steel, aluminum, zinc, lead). Although greener methods of production are being developed, in the short term the use of point-source C02 extraction using existing technology remains attractive. Accelerated natural carbonation, in a fluidized bed is a feasible technological route investigated in this research. CFD modelling has been used to study the efficiency of C02 capture in a fluidized bed reactor containing a CaO solid sorbent. A Lagrangian/Eulerian scheme describes describe CaO particle trajectories and exchange of mass, momentum and energy with the carrier gas, with a typical off-gas composition. Different reactor geometries are considered (with uniform, stepped and gradually expanding cross-section), to maximize conversion for a given particle loading and size distribution (100-200 microns). Removal efficiencies of up to 80% are demonstrated, making this a viable process.IntroductionBased on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, the major cause of climate change and global warming is due to a high level of C02 concentration in the atmosphere resulting from fossil fuel combustion, particularly in coal-fired power plants [1]. Carbon capture and storage is therefore the most important action proposed to reduce C02 from combustion flue gases. In this process, carbon dioxide is captured and may then be regenerated as pure C02 and conducted to a permanent storage, or simply stored as a solid carbonate [2]. Capture and storage of C02 has an economic penalty and the main cost of this penalty is associated with the capture plant. Capturing C02 with a lime-based solid sorbent (CaO) is a very promising technique, due to the low cost and the wide availability of the reactant. In this process, the CaO reacts with C02 based on the following reaction in a reactor called a Carbonator:"

Jan 1, 2012

By Navid Hosseini

Several empirical equations to estimate coal pillar strength have been presented in academic studies. The development processes of these equations are similar and are usually obtained by fitting the mathematical function (curve) to field data. One of the best criteria to evaluate the quality of fitting for such equations is the correlation coefficient R2, which has limited applicability. It is necessary to calculate the correlation coefficient access to the initial data for which the equation is presented; this is impossible for many coal pillar strength formulas. This paper presents a new approach based on the analysis of uncertainty amplitude to compare the coal pillar strength. This approach utilizes a combination of parameters such as Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), function type and degrees of freedom. The confidence level of constants is subsequently formed and the correlation coefficient becomes more comprehensive. Therefore, for an effective comparison, the efficiency and accuracy of coal pillar strength formula can be used. Keywords: Coal Pillar Strength, Correlation Coefficient, MATLAB, Uncertainty Criterion

Jan 1, 2012

By K. Short

Over the past several years, the mining and minerals market was overloaded with discussions around reviving mature terminologies like distributed control systems (DCS), programmable logic controllers (PLC), and the ?new comers?: hybrid control systems (HCS) and programmable automation controllers (PAC) and, in parallel, which technologies would be more appropriate for mining and mineral processing applications. Ten years ago, a careful comparative analysis would make more sense. Control approaches had very distinctive differences where users needed to choose the right approach.

Jan 1, 2012

By F. Mielli

Ranging between 20% and 40% of the typical mining operational costs, energy in mining operations is a growing concern for the industry. However, this concern is a complex, multi-faceted variable that involves government regulations, societal pressures, cost and competitiveness. A mining company successful in energy efficiency is becoming the standard of a successful company. The suggested energy strategy in mining and mineral processing operations has to follow a well structured approach that entails the following: ? Understanding where energy is being used and why, ? Recommending and implement energy conservation measures, ? Driving visibility to targets and results, ? Leveraging the energy spend across the enterprise, ? Developing a robust energy and sustainability strategy.

Jan 1, 2012