Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) is set to resume production at its Butcherbird Manganese Project following an unexpected logwasher shaft failure last month which disrupted activities.
The company chose to bring forward scheduled modifications and upgrades to the processing plant, making use of the unanticipated downtime to improve processing efficiencies.
All replacement parts have arrived, associated engineering work is almost complete and final installation is underway to allow production to resume as soon as possible, with the estimated start-up slated for December 19, 2021.
As part of Element’s overall risk-management strategy, the failed shaft was repaired in a local fabrication workshop to provide a temporary solution in the case of unforeseen logistical disruptions.
While the part will not be required, it will provide an emergency replacement option should any similar incident occur in the future.
The disruptions did not stop the latest E25 manganese ore shipment from leaving on board the bulk vessel MV Top Fair as scheduled on December 5, 2021.
Forward focus for Butcherbird
A range of modifications have been made to improve plant access for maintenance, manage material flow through the plant, reduce wear on key components, improve noise and dust control as well as adjusting the overall site layout to increase operational and maintenance scheduling flexibility and throughput.
The operations team continues to focus on delivering nameplate production, anticipated for Butcherbird by Q1 2022.
The business development team is also focusing on Element’s multi-stage development strategy, including a Stage 2 expansion of the concentrate business, followed by a Stage 3 development to convert the concentrate material into high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) for electric vehicle (EV) batteries to power the global transition away from fossil fuel-powered mobility.
About Element 25
Element 25 is developing a world-class manganese resource at the 100%-owned Butcherbird Project in Western Australia to produce high-quality manganese concentrate for export markets.
The Butcherbird Manganese Deposit is Australia’s largest onshore manganese resource comprising large tonnages of near-surface manganese oxide ore in seven deposits.
The project also has some excellent infrastructure advantages with a gas pipeline and main bitumen highway passing directly adjacent to and through the mineralised envelope.