With the final processing of open pit ore from Century in late 2015, the focus of previous owner was turned to the progressive rehabilitation and ultimate closure of the mine site. Significant rehabilitation activities had already been undertaken, with over A$70M spent on rehabilitation to date. A comprehensive plan of work is also in place to progressively take the mine site, the pipeline and the port facility to full closure over a long-term period through to 2050.
The re-treatment of tailings at Century commenced in August 2018 and is currently ramping up to name-plate capacity.
The restarting of operations at Century, initially via tailings reprocessing, allows much of the scheduled rehabilitation to be achieved through new cash flow generating site activities. In the case of the Century Tailings Deposit, after reprocessing of the tailings has occurred, the material is being relocated back into the existing open pit, which allows for final encapsulation via subaqueous deposition and eliminates the need for capping of the tailings dam on surface.
The reprocessing of tailings and encapsulation within the open pit also provides a significant reduction in the overall footprint of disturbance of the Century mining operations and therefore is expected to allow for a progressive reduction in the total financial assurance required for the site.
In addition to tailings reprocessing, extraction of defined in-situ base metal deposits, phosphate deposits and regional toll treatment opportunities will also be assessed, potentially providing further economic benefits and assistance toward scheduled site rehabilitation.
The restart of operations and long term ongoing infrastructure usage also eliminated the need for infrastructure dismantling and final closure activities until potentially well after 2050.
Short Company Bio: From a solid foundation of the globally significant operation at Century, New Century is developing an agile and sustainable resources and tailings management business. Using a growing track record in environmentally focused execution, management and operations, the Company will target both the acquisition of resource projects to deliver sustainable mine life extension and optimisation and projects where its tailings management IP can deliver a better long-term solution.
Beyond Century, the Company is focused on projects with the potential for extending the life of aging mining operations and extracting value from tailings or remnant in-situ resources. Using the Company’s development approach, it will increase economic returns and improve outcomes for stakeholders while implementing world class rehabilitation.