Posted by Paul Moore on 20th January 2023
FLSmidth has been selected to supply its ninth high performance semi-mobile crushing plant in a row to leading copper miner First Quantum Minerals. This new crushing plant will increase production and efficiency, contributing to the customer’s expansion plans in Africa.
Following the successful commissioning of a semi-mobile crushing plant in early 2022, which is the fourth direct-fed semi-mobile primary crushing plant at First Quantum Minerals Sentinel copper mine in Zambia, FLS has been contracted to supply the next almost identical plant to First Quantum’s Kansanshi mine, located 170 km from the Sentinel mine.
One of the largest and most powerful plants in the world, this semi-mobile primary crushing plant is fed by 360 t ultra heavy class mine trucks and is equipped with FLS’s KB 63-130 Pro primary gyratory crusher. The company says the crusher “offers exceptional capacity and more efficient and safer maintenance with its 1.5 MW drive power and top service technology.”
“The crushing plant largely follows the same design principles as the eight plants already supplied to First Quantum, with a strictly standardized modular layout that reduces engineering complexity, mitigates manufacturing risk and shortens delivery and installation time. The plant is fully self-contained and offers all functions for operation and maintenance,” explains Branco Lalik, Vice President IPCC Product Group.
“This latest IPCC order is in line with FLS’s MissionZero strategy as it will result in a significant reduction of truck haulage and associated emissions. It will contribute to First Quantum’s expansion efforts and impressively demonstrates confidence in technology leadership and excellent partnership with First Quantum as one of FLS’s key customers in the mining industry,” comments Chris Reinbold, President Products Business Line.