Mining activities at the Kombat underground continue above 120 metres from the shaft collar after the pumps break down.
Trigon Metals says the two dewatering pumps broke down on June 14, 2024.
The mine had been dewatered down to 331 metres from the shaft collar at the time of the pump failure.
The water has since risen to 227 metres below the surface, which has remained at that level for the last two weeks.
A new pump body has been ordered from the supplier and is currently scheduled to arrive in neighbouring South Africa by air on July 21, 2024.
The pump will then be transported by road to Kombat for installation.
Installation and repositioning of the completed pumping unit is estimated to be completed by July 28, 2024.
Trigon says the failure is localised to the pump body and does not extend to the pump motor and the installed variable speed drive.
According to Trigon Metals, the causes of the failure have been identified and are being investigated further by the original manufacturer and supplier of the pump, Yantai Xinhai Industry & Trade Co., Ltd.
Trigon Metals vice president of operations Fanie Muller said despite the initial loss of progress in the dewatering, they expect to recover to former levels quickly.
Muller says throughout the past ten months of dewatering, they have seen various brief interruptions in pumping.
During those periods, Muller explains, they tend to experience an initial rapid increase in water levels that falls far more quickly than the initial drawdown when pumping is restored.
Trigon Metals CEO Jed Richardson said the redundancy and backup systems managed the pump failure effectively, preventing a flood like the one in 2007.
“The original design and contingency planning have been effectively implemented to ensure continuous and sustainable mine operations at Kombat mine,” Richardson says.
