Vast Resources plc plans to double the plant capacity at its 50.1%-owned Manaila mine, in Romania, to 2.4 Mt/y by re-commissioning a second mill. The cost of the second mill is estimated at US$0.2 million. The open pit mine commenced production in July this year.
As part of its plans for Phase 1 of the operation, the company is spending US$1.7 million, primarily on increasing the flotation capacity. The mine currently produces a 13% copper and 3 g/t gold concentrate.
Resources at the mine, under the Russiian classification system, are 1.8 Mt at grades of 0.95% lead, 1.86% zinc, 1.17% copper, 0.63 g/t gold and 45.97 g/t silver.
The company intends to drill outside the perimeter of the existing pit after being granted a 3-year extension to its mining licence with a view to expanding resources.
Vast to double capacity at it Romanian polymetallic mine: VAST