SAG Mill Optimisation and Increasing Throughput at the Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation – A Success Story

Rajiv Chandramohan, Robert Braun, Greg Lane, Kirsty Hollis, Johnson Le, Dirk Baas

14^thAusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference, 29-31 August 2018, Brisbane, Australia

ABSTRACT

The Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation (Phu Kham) is located in northern Laos, approximately 140 kilometres from the capital, Vientiane. The operation is a producing asset for Australian-based copper and gold producer, PanAust Limited (PanAust) and is operated by Lao-registered company, Phu Bia Mining Limited (Phu Bia Mining). PanAust holds a 90 % interest in Phu Bia Mining. The Government of Laos owns the remaining 10%.

The Phu Kham Operation has recently undergone a series of process improvements to treat the anticipated competent ores scheduled for 2017 and 2018. The operation’s comminution circuit, which comprises a semiautogenous (SAG) mill and two ball mills, each with 13 megawatts (MW) of installed power, was expected to be SAG mill limited when treating competent basement rock.

Ausenco Services Pty Ltd (Ausenco), was engaged to help optimise and enhance the productivity of the Phu Kham comminution circuit over an eight-month period. The work involved participating in and overseeing the redesign of the SAG mill liner systems and developing operational strategies for maximising throughput through to the end of mine life.

Ausenco’s comminution optimisation tool, Ausgrind, was used to benchmark and analyse plant data with empirical models, predict circuit performance for varying ore characteristics and evaluate liner wear and predict the life for varying operating parameters. Variances between the actual and the predicted values were assessed in detail to identify missed opportunities, and guiding operating parameters were redefined to maximise throughput and productivity.

In combination with the redesigned liner system, optimised process controls for varying ore competencies, and improved operational practices and troubleshooting strategies, increased Phu Kham overall production, exceeding the milling capacity when treating competent ores.

AUTHOR DETAILS

Rajiv Chandramohan (1), Robert Braun (2), Greg Lane (3), Kirsty Hollis (4), Johnson Le (5), Dirk Baas (6)

1. MAusIMM, Principal Consultant, Ausenco, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2. MAusIMM, Principal Process Engineer, Ausenco, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
3. FAusIMM, Chief Technical Officer, Ausenco, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
4. FAusIMM, Process Manager, Phu Bia Mining Limited, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
5. MAusIMM, Metallurgical Superintendent, Phu Bia Mining Limited, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
6. MAusIMM, Senior Process Control Specialist, PanAust Limited, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CEEC acknowledges and thanks The Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy for organising the 14^thAusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference (MillOps 2018). 

Abstracts can be found at the MillOps 2018 website.