Business
Sasa TSF 4 incident update
Sasa TSF 4 incident update.
About this update from Central Asia Metals Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n \n \n RNS Number : 2953E\n Central Asia Metals PLC\n 05 November 2020\n \n \n \n \n 5 November 2020\n \n \n \n \n \n CENTRAL ASIA METALS PLC\n \n \n ('CAML' or the 'Company')\n \n \n Sasa TSF 4 incident update \n \n Central Asia Metals plc (AIM: CAML) today announces a further update following the 14 September 2020 leakage at its Sasa Tailings Storage Facility 4 ('TSF4').\n Environmental update\n Following receipt of the appropriate ministerial approvals, the clean-up programme of the Kamenica River commenced in late October.\n The clean-up process is separated into two phases. Phase 1 involves the physical removal of all reasonably extractable tailings from the full 13 kilometre length of the river to Lake Kalimanci, and this is expected to be completed during Q4 2020. To date, a four kilometre stretch of the river has been cleaned in line with the detailed technical programme of works.\n Phase 2 involves the installation of in-stream sediment traps to collect the tailings not recovered during Phase 1, and subsequent removal of that remaining material over time. The sediment traps will be installed during Q4 2020, although removal of the remaining tailings not extracted during Phase 1 will continue into 2021.\n Wardell Armstrong Limited, which has advised CAML on its river remediation programme, will complete a baseline report detailing the initial conditions of the river post the TSF4 incident, as well as a description of the social and environmental aspects. This report will be finalised as the work programme progresses.\n TSF4 and production update\n As previously announced, processing of ore recommenced at 50% capacity on 2 October 2020. Following a trial period of just over one week, processing was increased, and the flotation plant has now been broadly operating at full capacity for almost three weeks. Site management is satisfied with the engineering improvements made to TSF4, in line with the designer and Knight Piésold's recommendations.\n Knight Piésold has discussed with the CAML Board the causes and contributory factors to the TSF4 incident, concluding that the leakage occurred due to water ingress along the composite liner interface through to the dam resulting in a loss of strength and the subsequent subsidence of the dam crest. CAML management has worked closely with the designers, Knight Piésol...