TMAC Resources’ Director and CEO, Catharine Farrow next to President and CTO, Gordon Morrison holding the first gold bar poured form Hope Bay processing plant.
BALLARAT, VIC – Gekko Systems is delighted to announce that the first two gold pours have been successfully completed by TMAC Resources Inc. (TSX:TMR) during February at its Doris mine and mill complex at the Hope Bay Project, located in the Arctic Circle, Nunavut, Canada.
The TMAC management team acquired the project in March 2013 and have been working towards this milestone since that time. The gold pour at the Hope Bay Project may well mark the beginning of a new technological generation in mining in a standout emerging goldfield.
TMAC Resources’ CEO Dr. Catharine Farrow stated “We poured our first gold on February 9th and recently completed plant commissioning. We are now focused on process optimization, on-site operator training and ramp up to steady state production in order to attain commercial production this quarter.”
Gekko Systems’ low height, modular, Python plant processing solution is ideal for remote or underground use. This solution was selected by TMAC Resources for a number reasons including speed of design, construct, through to commissioning, energy efficiency, as well as the low footprint and height design. These characteristics allowed for the full modular plant to be prebuilt and tested prior to shipment in containers to site. In addition the small footprint and head height of the process plant allowed for significant savings in the size and cost of the process facility.
The complete modular plant was designed, fabricated, assembled and tested at Gekko’s Ballarat plant, prior to being packed and shipped.
In July 2016, Gekko achieved a major milestone by packing the complete processing plant into 200 containers to meet the strict delivery deadline at Roberts Bay jetty by August 2016. Sea access at Hope Bay is only possible each summer for up to ten weeks while the ice is thawed.
De-stuffing commenced on September 1st and within four months, the modular Gekko Python and low-height modular plant was unpacked and installed, ready for commissioning to commence in January 2017.
“This is a project that fits with our reason for being.” says Gekko’s Technical Director and Co-founder, Sandy Gray. “We are focused on step-change in the industry, through low-energy process flowsheet designs, low capital costs, small footprint and modular designs which are positive for the environment, deliver lower operating costs and allow fast low-risk, predictable project delivery and execution.”
Production of the second stage of TMAC’s Doris processing plant is in production at Gekko’s Ballarat facility for the 2017 sealift. Stage 1 throughput of the plant is designed to operate at 1000 tpd with Stage 2 bringing full throughput capacity up to 2000 tpd. The Stage 2 installation will include a second Python train (crushing, gravity circuit, milling and flotation and associated equipment).
About Gekko Systems
Gekko Systems is a global leader in the mineral processing industry offering fully integrated solutions to mining companies. Gekko is a pioneer in the design, manufacturing and installation of energy efficient, low height, modular plants.
With offices in Australia, Canada and South Africa, the Gekko team is passionate about delivering products and services that achieve maximum efficiencies for its customers around the world.