Semi-Autogenous Grinding Mill Deployment For Dual Gold Projects

Emerald Resources, an international gold mining operator, required industrial-scale milling equipment for two greenfield development sites: the Dingo Range Gold Project in Western Australia and the Memot Gold Project in Cambodia. The primary operational objective is to scale multi-mine gold production to exceed 300,000 ounces per annum. Achieving this capacity required processing infrastructure capable of sustaining continuous high throughput and mechanical reliability during comminution processes in demanding mineral extraction environments.

Implementation of High-Capacity Grinding Circuits
To meet these throughput targets, the mining company deployed two 8,000 kW semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills manufactured by Metso. These horizontal grinding mills function as the primary particle size reduction units within the facilities. The deployed systems feature a patented Polymer Hydrostatic Shoe Bearing (HSB) configuration, a technology engineered to manage the heavy structural loads of the rotating mill shell while minimizing friction and component wear. Additionally, the mills are equipped with custom in-house wear lining systems designed to extend maintenance intervals and protect the internal structure from severe impact and abrasion.

Deployment and Operational Reasoning
The equipment procurement decision was based on a competitive delivery schedule necessary for the timely progression of the Dingo Range and Memot projects toward active gold production. The customized mills focus on enhancing overall equipment effectiveness within the grinding circuits. By integrating the specified bearing technology and wear components, the implementation is structured to reduce unplanned downtime. Nick Green, Vice President of Horizontal Mills at Metso, noted the technical focus of the system configuration: "Combined with our advanced bearing technology and lifecycle support, they enable customers to maximize throughput and achieve the lowest total cost of ownership."

Measurable Efficiency and Maintenance Impact
The deployment of these heavy-duty SAG mills supports the operational expansion across both continents by streamlining the initial ore processing phase. The specific equipment design improves both energy consumption and water efficiency during minerals processing compared to conventional legacy systems. To maintain continuous mechanical performance, the units are supported by a global service network that provides ongoing lifecycle maintenance for mill linings and bearing assemblies. This framework ensures that both production facilities can sustain the high availability required to meet their long-term gold extraction targets.

Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.

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