Discovery Metals resumes Botswana pit development 

(MENAFN - ProactiveInvestors - Australia) Discovery Metals (ASX: DML) has recommenced the development of the Zeta open pit at the Boseto copper project in Botswana after the country's government lifted temporary restrictions preventing deepening of the pit.

The company is now aiming to meet design mining rates in January, by implementing a number of initiatives to lift mine production and recover lost development time.

These include improved hiring and training of operators and maintenance personnel, early development of the Plutus open pit, procurement of larger capacity mining equipment and use of additional hired mining fleet to accelerate pit development.

The restriction was imposed in late November as a result of a small localised failure of a section of an interim hanging wall.

While the restriction was in place, Discovery has focused on advancing development of the higher benches, and ore has been fed to the mill from these higher benches and from stockpiles.

Higher grade material can now be supplied to the mill with the resumption of normal pit development allowing the mining of sulphide ores at the base of the pit to recommence.

The Boseto concentrator has previously demonstrated that it can operate at, or above, its daily design throughput rate.

The focus of activity is now on improving supply of ore to the mill.