Trigon Metals Inc. has replaced the failed dewatering pump at the company’s Kombat mine in Namibia.
The dewatering pump broke down on June 14, 2024.
The replacement pump body, known as the wet end, was installed on July 26, 2024, and water from the mine started pumping on July 27, 2024.
The new pump body was ordered from Yantai Xinhai Industry & Trade Co., Ltd. and airfreighted from China on July 19, 2024. It arrived on site via road from South Africa on July 24, 2024.
The pump was assembled, tested, and lowered into position in three days.
The pump is functioning as designed and dewatering at 2860 cubic metres per hour.
Trigon has taken measures to ensure that the previous failure issue was addressed through the implementation of modifications to the new pump body, such as the installation of deflector plates and enhanced meshing and guarding on the suction inlets of the pump, which will prevent foreign objects from entering the pump.
Mining and processing have continued as normal from the underground operations throughout this period, with activities focused on mining above 120 metres from the shaft collar. The remaining original pump is being monitored continuously and does not show any sign of fatigue or potential failure.
The pumping setbacks are not expected to impact plans and projections previously outlined in the company’s guidance.
Trigon CEO Jed Richardson said the team managed the pump replacement effectively, and our redundancy systems prevented a flood like the one in 2007.
“Our next key milestone is installing and commissioning the 11-level permanent pump station, which is one of four planned pump stations underground,” Richardson said.
Trigon COO Rennie Morkel said the team banded together, from procurement and logistics to installation and recommissioning. Morkel said they expected to recover to former levels quickly, as attested by the water level reducing by 25 metres in less than two days.
“This reinforces what we have learned over the past ten months of dewatering, where we have seen quick gains after brief interruptions,” he said.
He added that although the loss of the wet end caused a temporary setback to the operations, they have demonstrated resilience and the ability to absorb this setback.
