Mine Specifications
The Expansion project includes open cut mining from two large open pits. It requires the construction of a new processing plant which will include a three-stage crushing circuit, single stage griding, copper-gold flotation and gold leaching of the flotation residue by the carbon-in-leach (CIL) process.
In the production phase, Boddington Gold Mine’s philosophy is to create local and regional development with employment, training, development and business opportunities targeted at local people.
Ownership: Newmont 66.67%; AngloGold Ashanti 33.33%. Newmont acquired Newcrest’s 22.22% share in March 2006.
Expansion Project: The expansion will mine the hard gold-copper ore that lies beneath depleted oxide pits and Boddington.
Project Approval: Joint venture partner approval achieved first quarter 2006.
First Production: The project will take approximately 2.5 years to construct with first production planned for late 2008.
Processing Rate: Average approximately 35Mt/a.
Mining Rate: Average approximately 80Mt/a.
Annual Production:
- Gold, first 5 years average of approximately 1 million ounces/year.
- LOM, average approximately 850,000 ounces/year.
- Copper – LOM,average of approximately 30,000 tonnes/year.
Total Gold Reserves: More than 11 million ounces.
Mine Life: Greater than 15 years with potential to extend.
Capital Expenditure: Total $1.8 to $2.0 billion
Employment: Peak of approximately 1,000 during construction.
Approximately 650 permanent workforce.
Economic Impact: At construction, an estimated $39 million/year to the Peel economy and $410 million/year to the Western Australian economy. During operation, an estimated $55 million/year to the Peel economy and $770 million/year to Western Australia.
