Mammoet will move the 1,700t floating dredge and its 7,000t Wet Concentrator Plant B (WCP B) around 23km from Namalope in the country's north, to Pilivili, at the company's flagship Moma Mine located on the northeast coast.
"This is a unique move in Africa and requires specialist handling to ensure the plant is transported efficiently and safely. We are proud to be part of this project and excited to have the opportunity to contribute to Mozambique's growing mining industry", said Henry Viljoen, Mammoet sales manager.
Kenmare has targeted the fourth quarter of 2020 to complete the move, and noted in a company update in mid-August that the project was 70% complete.
The cost of the WCP B move and installation will be over US$106 million, but will enable the company to achieve a targeted production rate of 1.2 million t/yr of ilmenite from 2021 at Moma, a 35% increase on last year.
The Moma Mine is one of the largest titanium minerals deposits in the world and following the relocation, Kenmare will provide approximately 10% of the global supply of titanium feedstocks, noted the company.
The plant's dimensions during dransport will be 80m long, 24m high and 60m wide, and Mammoet will use a Self-Propelled Modular Transporter over a purpose-built road. The road is 23km long and 66m wide, with a weight-bearing capacity of 8.4 t/m2 and a maximum inclination of 2.5º, that will allow for safe transport of the plant.
