Vast Resources PLC (AIM:VAST) said it expects to see a significant increase in production at its Baita Plai polymetallic mine in Romania from the end of the second quarter.
The AIM-listed miner said the first of two Mantis CMR4 production drilling rigs successfully completed functional drill testing underground and that a second Mantis rig is expected in the next week.
“With the two new Mantis drills and the transition to mechanised mining, together with the implementation of long hole stope mining, significantly increased production output is expected from the end of Q2 onwards,” the company said.
Using the Mantis rig will improve drilling efficiency by up to 3.5 times, with a reduction of labour at the drilling face allowing additional faces to be worked.
Vast also said that drilling with a Doofor DF530S hydraulic drifter resulted in penetration rates of up to 1.05 metres per minute, outperforming the typical 0.3 metres per minute of standard pneumatic rock drills.
“Our planned ramp up at Baita Plai is now on course,” said chief executive Andrew Prelea.
“The implementation of long hole stope mining is expected to deliver a significant increase in production volumes, and together with our additional operational improvements, including the introduction of molybdenum flotation circuit, Vast is in a strong position to lift production, output and revenues from the end of Q2 and into Q3.”
Prelea expects to provide further operational updates in coming weeks as additional elements of Vast’s mechanisation and optimisation plan at Baita Plai are rolled out.