01 Jul 2013

Debswana management has taken a decision to temporarily shut down the Orapa No.1 Plant for three months with effect from today (July 1).

A news release from the public and corporate affairs manager, Mrs Kesego Okie said the move followed a recent review of the plant’s general and structural condition, which identified that there was need to embark on more intensive maintenance of the plant.

Mrs Okie said the areas that needed attention were the screening building, tertiary crushing building and the dense medium separation building. 

“The temporary shut-down is therefore to enable remedial work at these areas of the plants to take place both quickly and safely,” she said.

She said all Orapa No.1 Plant employees would continue reporting for duty. Orapa Mine has had a strong production performance during the first half of 2013, she said.

To help mitigate the production loss expected from the shutdown, Ms Okie said production at Orapa No.2 Plant would be increased while at the same time increasing treatment of the Old Recovery Tailings. ENDS