What is the most cost-effective answer to
this question? Developing a potential minerals resource to the point
where it is a profit generating venture must start with a detailed study
to determine the basic engineering concept and the project's techno-economic
viability. But the current trend in South Africa and internationally
is for companies wishing to expand their mining and processing operations
to draw upon specialist feasibility skills and resources.
Bateman Minerals and Metals has the range of skills
and experience to tackle increasingly complex feasibility investigations.
Its professional engineers have the necessary knowledge of process and
plant design, construction, commissioning and operations and the support
of Bateman Minerals and Metals' extensive project database to be able
to maximize study efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Part of the portfolio of skills offered by Bateman
Minerals and Metals is the structuring, negotiating and securing of
financial packages to support projects.
When a feasibility study is established, Bateman Minerals
and Metals' team will assist the client to define objectives sufficiently
clearly so all involved understand the scope and duration of the work
to be done, and to assign the appropriate skills and resources to the
study. This is crucial to maximize efficiency.
Bateman Minerals and Metals can conduct the study
using either the engineering standards specified by the client, or in-house
BATEMAN standards. These standards (for example, materials of construction,
piping, instrumentation) can have a significant influence on project
cost and duration. Bateman Minerals and Metals has ISO 9001 certification
and its own quality assurance department to ensure that the client's
quality requirements are met.
Communications are a vital part of Bateman Minerals
and Metals studies and are agreed at the outset, particularly the desired
frequency and content of interim progress and cost reports as well as
the format and content of the final report. Much can be gained by having
at least one full-time client representative on the design team and
regular communication with the client's project and operations staff
is also very beneficial.
Outsourcing feasibility studies is particularly cost
effective for the medium and small mining companies because it allows
them to avoid the significant overheads involved. Only the work done
is paid for; there is no need to maintain specialist study staff during
slack periods.
A well conducted study will allow a client to be confident
of the economic viability of the proposed project and of the cost of
the desired plant, within the degree of accuracy required to meet the
stated technical objectives.
