The initial feasibility study for Asia Pacific Potash’s (APQ-T) Somboon Field deposit in Thailand has been submitted.
Situated on a 2,333-sq.-km concession in the northeastern part of the country, Somboon Field contains 330 million tonnes of high-grade sylvinite, which, according to the study, can support a 2-million-tonne-per-year potash mine.
Such an operation would last about 24 years and carry a capital cost of US$394.4 million. The cash operating cost would be US$45.69 per tonne.
Ore would likely be processed by a conventional flotation system, though a dry, electrostatic process is also under consideration. Mining would entail the use of continuous mining machines capable of cutting orebody heights from 1.8 to 3.8 metres, and the use of electric shuttle cars.
The Somboon field is on the same concession as Udon Field, which is estimated to contain 1 billion tonnes of sylvinite. Only 30% of the concession has been evaluated to date.
A final feasibility study will begin shortly to advance the Somboon project to the bankable stage. It will also include a study of the initial Udon mine of similar scale to Somboon, and examine the potential of Udon to support additional mines.
A budget of $5 million has been allocated for ongoing exploration and development.
Be the first to comment on "Feasibility study wrapped at Somboon"