Appian Capital Advisory says Rosh Pinah Zinc has commissioned a new semi-autogenous grinding mill to replace the ball mill.
The commissioning of the SAG mill is the final major stage processing component of the RP2.0 expansion.
The RP2.0, whose development has surpassed 95%, comprises further development of the underground mine, including the newly developed WF3 portal and decline, as well as the construction of new surface facilities.
The SAG mill’s processing throughput doubles from 0.7 million tonnes per annum to 1.4 million tonnes per annum.
Appian says the commissioning of the SAG mill brings the full RP2.0 circuit into operation as an integrated system, incorporating the paste fill and water treatment plants and expanded flotation, thickening and filtration capacity.
Additionally, the company says the revised flowsheet enhances comminution efficiency and resilience, delivering improved grind-size control and metallurgical recovery while lowering unit operating costs.
“Ore is crushed to a coarser product size ahead of the SAG mill, reducing dust generation throughout the crushing circuit and improving working conditions, environmental performance and on-site material handling,” the company said.
According to Appian, the SAG mill increases the processing capacity and enhances the plant’s ability to treat harder ore types, which becomes more prevalent as mining progresses.
The mill, the company said, has been designed with excess capacity, providing the potential for future production increases.
“The expanded processing capacity extends the operation’s economic life and improves resource utilisation across the orebody, strengthening Rosh Pinah as a long-life metals project,” the company further said.
Appian base metals CEO Ignacio Bustamante said the commissioning marks the completion of the core processing infrastructure and reflects the quality of execution by the Rosh Pinah Zinc team.
“With the full circuit now operational, the project is positioned to achieve a step-change in production output,” Bustamante said.
He added that the milestone demonstrates Appian and Rosh Pinah’s commitment to value-accretive, operationally rigorous project delivery.
