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Alkane Exploration
By Juliet Duffy
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Regional Business owners are proving to be the best practice leaders for best practice in the area of business sustainability. Increasing demand for mineral resources has been the catalyst for this change. In a series of interviews, some of our proactive business leaders will be sharing their successes and innovative approaches to business sustainability. This month Juliet Duffy and Michael Sutherland of Alkane Exploration discuss concepts and benefits of business sustainability and in particular the Dubbo Zirconia Project (DZP). Background: Michael Sutherland, Environmental Manager for Alkane Exploration Michael graduated from the University of Sydney in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree (Geology). Michael’s first job was as an exploration geologist in South Africa but he did spend a year working as an underground mine geologist at Western Areas Gold Mine just outside Johannesburg. When he returned to Australia he bought a farm 100km SW of Dubbo. In 1995 he started as a contractor to Alkane at the Peak Hill Gold Mine in the area of environment and safety. Michael has found a career path with the Company. Throughout his employment with Alkane Michael has been an active participant in Landcare and is currently the Deputy Chair of the Central Western Catchment Management Authority. |
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Project: , Dubbo Zirconia Project
Current Status: : In 2006 Alkane received a Commercial Ready grant from AusIndustry to assist with advancing the Dubbo Zirconia Project. A demonstration pilot plant will be built early in 2007 by ANSTO Minerals at their Lucas Heights facility. This pilot plant will provide the platform for further research and development of the process flowsheet over a six to twelve month period.
The pilot plant will produce several tonnes of products (zirconium products and tantalum/niobium concentrate, and yttrium/rare earth concentrate) which will then be delivered to end users for their evaluation. Potential customers for the DZP products are found in North America, Japan and Europe.
The pilot plant is currently in the design and procure phase with construction likely to occur early in 2007. Ore mined at the project site at Toongi in October will be used to feed the pilot plant from April 2007. Operation of the pilot plant and further process refinement should inform a bankable feasibility study. Alkane is hoping to be able to make a development decision for the full scale commercial plant by mid-2008.
Business Opportunities: Infrastructure including railway, gas, power and water supplies. Construction of plant and office with an estimated 200 to 300 persons required during construction. A local source of limestone will be required to supply the project with approximately 65,000 tonnes of product per annum.
Employment: Engineers chemical and mechanical, metallurgist, process technicians, OHS and Environment, maintenance trades, administration - an estimated 80 to 85 permanent employees will be required, with a potential mine life of 250 years.
Value Adding: Long term is to optimize optimise the value of the products that could be sold; the products are used in high tech applications, clustering of industries should hopefully develop.
Outputs PA: 12,000 tonnes per annum of high value metal concentrates (at a nominal mining rate of 200,000 tonnes ore per annum. The metals produced at Toongi will ultimately go to applications in electronics, engineering ceramics, catalysts, specialty alloys and other more advanced uses such as solid oxide fuel cells and the nuclear power industry (Zirconium metal is used in control rods and cladding power plants).
Rehabilitation: Because of the 250 year mine life, this will not be issue for the next couple of generations,generations; however the buffer areas will be managed under an environmental management plan.
Human Resources: People to be trained up locally with local education institutions and training providers. The Peak Hill operation had a good track record with 80% of persons that were employed were local and out of that 15 % were indigenous. The company has the philosophy of act, shop and employ locally.
CSR Alkane has a good track record with Corporate Social Responsibility. During the decade of operating the mine in Peak Hill, the Company supported numerous community projects – provided for a mining museum, created the Open Cut Experience (tourist mine), donated a community hall, assisted with purchase of a doctors residence, upgraded the tennis courts and sponsored sporting events, individuals and local shows.
Economic: We have seen a positive impact by adopting a sustainable business philosophy, “By doing things well at Peak Hill, the Company company earns credibility in the local community to advance other mining projects in the district such as the Tomingley Gold Project”
Top impediments to Regional Businesses: Is going to be the lack of skilled workers and security of water supply. The costs of labour and materials is also on an upward spiral.
Future Opportunities for Regional Businesses: People identifying and seeing an opportunity in the utilization utilisation of our products, servicing the needs of the plant, and potentially in a few years time Alkane could have four operating mines in Central Western NSW.
Reflections on your career? Coming from the geological formal training and then becoming self taught in environmental science has provided me with an interesting career path. Many mining projects are located in very remote locations so I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with a Company company with several exciting projects close to Dubbo
Need More Information?
Juliet Duffy is the Managing Director of Wireless Marketing Pty Ltd and can be contacted on (02) 6885 5361 or by email on juliet@wirelessmarketing.com.au.
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