Galena Mining Ltd (ASX:G1A) has hit the 63% completion milestone at its Abra Base Metals Mine in WA’s Gascoyne region.
The company reached the completion point on April 30 after it had completed 58% of the work by the end of the previous month.
During April, Galena completed the first 1,000 metres of decline development and kicked off mining work on Abra’s first underground diamond drill chamber.
In addition, GR Engineering Services and Contract Power Australia have made headway on the base metal camp’s processing plant and the power station sites.
Navigating COVID challenges
Outlining the progress to date, Galena managing director Tony James said: “During April, we were fortunate to have only 10 COVID-19 isolation cases on site, which has had limited impact on construction works.
“It’s a credit to the site team on how they have navigated the pandemic-related challenges to date.
“By the end of April, the decline has reached the 1,380-metre relative level, which is now 67 metres vertically above the orebody.
“It's also pleasing to see the development of the first underground diamond drilling drives. At the processing plant, a total of 1,527 cubic metres (61%) of concrete has been poured on track to reach overall design volume of 2,500 cubic metres on schedule.
“The construction of the fine ore bin is nearing completion and structural steel arriving on site is being installed."
Bringing Abra to life
Galena says overall progress at Abra continues in line with its project schedule for the production critical areas, such as mining and processing.
The processing plant engineering, procurement and construction has reached 68% completion in accordance with project spend.
Meanwhile, Abra’s underground development continues to be ahead of plan and the first underground drilling drives have been mined.
In terms of bulk earthworks, the tailings storage facility (TSF) work was suspended whilst a technical review was completed on the proposed TSF design, investigating the material suitability and availability for dam wall construction.
A revised TSF has been designed and works have been awarded and to resume in the second half of May, targeting completion well in advance of plant commissioning.
In addition, the final works package associated with the remaining non-processing infrastructure, which is not production critical, has been finalised and that work has commenced.
This includes the remaining buildings and the drill-core processing and storage facility. Positively, the owners' costs and contingencies remain under budget.
Going underground
Underground mine development has reached the 1,380-metre relative level, which is 170 metres below the surface and 67 metres above the orebody.
The decline is heading in a southerly direction and the development of the first underground drilling platforms occurred during April.
These drilling platforms will enable commencement of grade control drilling in the first production levels of the mine.
When this drilling commences, an opportunity may arise to enable Abra to carry out some further resource definition and exploration drilling.
The installation of the mine’s primary exhaust fan is currently scheduled for late May.
Securing equipment
Abra has been advised of revised delivery times for some of the overseas equipment supply for the processing plant.
However, none of these delivery changes are expected to cause any overall construction schedule delays.
The construction of the secondary and tertiary cone crushers has been completed and these have commenced shipping, and the arrival date for these crushers has now been revised to June 25.
In the meantime, Abra’s primary Jaw crusher has arrived on site, while the thickener arrival date has slipped from the last advice and is now expected to arrive on May 19.
The overall grinding mill package shipment date, comprising four separate shipments, remains as previously indicated.
Now, GR Engineering is working the timing of the various mill shipment changes into their work plans.
However, the mill installation had a three-month timeframe buffer in the original schedule, which is why recent delivery adjustments aren’t causing potential construction delay concerns relating to the grinding section of the plant.