Mine to Market March-April 2012 - Mount Isa Mines

EHM operations recoveredfrom significant rain eventOur Ernest Henry Miningoperations are back to normalafter a significant amount ofrainfall caused some downtimein late January.When 178 millimetres of rain fell in a24 hour period on 27 and 28 January, wetemporarily suspended our undergroundand surface operations to ensure the safetyof our employees, in line with our standardoperating procedure for handling extremeweather events.EHM TED expandedOn 5 March 2012, we completedan expansion of our TailingsEvaporation Dam (TED) atErnest Henry Mining to increaseits capacity in line with thenew Environmental Authorityconditions issued by theDepartment of Environment andResource Management.The TED is a purpose-built basinformed by a perimeter of embankmentwalls, with its primary function being toOperating resumed in most areas within24 hours of the rain event, but floodingcaused some damage to critical processingequipment in our concentrator, making itimpossible to re-start.Myles Johnston – General Manager,Ernest Henry Mining, said despite theunfortunate weather event, it gave usthe chance to perform a maintenanceshutdown earlier than expected.“We took the opportunity tocommence a maintenance shutdown inour concentrator on 1 February that hadbeen planned to commence later in themonth so we could reduce the amount ofdowntime in the plant,” Myles said.“The shutdown went well and once allworks were completed we recommencedfull concentrator operations on 6 February.“All teams responded well to the rainevent, prioritising safety whilst working tominimise downtime.“I’m pleased to say we don’t expectimpacts on our 2012 production profile aswe plan to make up any shortfall resultingfrom this event throughout the remainderof the year.”contain decant water from our tailingsstorage facility so it can be evaporated.Our TED was originally designed tocontain a one in every 10 year 72 hourrainfall event, however can now containa one in every 100 year 72 hour rainfallevent.The embankment walls of the TEDhave been expanded using approximately480,000 tonnes of material, increasing thestorage capacity of the facility by 4,350mega litres (ML) to a total of 7,000ML.SafetySafetyinnovationawardCongratulations to HastingsDeering who won our 2011Quarter Four InnovationAward at Ernest HenryMining (EHM) with its Cat 793haul truck work platform.The awards are held each quarterto recognise and reward personnelfor identifying and implementingan innovative solution for a process,cost, environmental, health, safety,community issue or risk.The haul truck work platformwas designed and fabricated byMark Zilm – Workshop Fitter, andDorian Stringer – Boilermaker, andprovides an easy and safe platformfor workers to stand on whenperforming maintenance tasks onthe rear of a Cat 793 engine.Previously, workers would climbover the engine and reach downto conduct maintenance work, butwith the use of the platform, they’veimproved their ergonomic position,reducing the risk of sprains, strainsand falls.The platform also provides aplace to safely store tools duringa job.The Concentrator’s metallurgyteam was awarded runner-up for itscreation of a SAG (Semi AutogenousGrinding) Mill Trumpet Platformwhich provides a flat working surfacefor workers to stand on whenperforming maintenance tasks insidethe SAG Mill.A contractor from Hastings Deering kneels onthe work platform which won the Quarter FourInnovation Award, to perform maintenancetasks on the engine of a Cat 793 haul truck.mine to market5