Post by
StoneMan45 on Feb 01, 2011 10:30am
times change
I must say that even the skeptics must concede that the changing markets for semi and non semi-precious metals is creating very favorable conditions for growth and prosperity in this company. Take for one example the proposed that was considered in Penoles Mexico for copper extraction. That facility was considered in 2001 while the price of copper was around 1370USD per Metric ton. Well currently copper is going around 9100USD per Metric ton. We all know gold and silver have risen and are quite likely to rise more. The times have changed and, for this company, there is a building voice saying ' it's time...come get some! '
In 2001, our copper bioleach technology was demonstrated in Monterrey,Mexico, by the joint technology partnership of REBgold and Mintek ofSouth Africa, in conjunction with Peñoles S.A. de C.V of Mexico. Thedemonstration plant operated for a year with a capacity of 200tpa coppercathode production using commercial equipment, and demonstrated wellthe technical feasibility of a totally integrated process with highlevels of copper recovery from a dirty concentrate blend.
On completion of the demonstration trial, a feasibility study wasconducted for a commercial bioleach plant currently envisaged as havingan initial capacity of 25,000 tonnes of copper, with a contingency toincrease the capacity in the future. At that time, the low price ofcopper prevented BacTech from moving forward with the technology tocommercial scale, but with dramatic increases in copper prices overrecent years, this situation has changed, and the economics of applyingthis environmentally friendly technology are much more favourable.