VRX Silica Limited (ASX:VRX) has kicked off project capital expenditure for its Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project, 270 km north of Perth, with the purchase of two major items of capital equipment.
The local purchase of a high-quality, second-hand feed trommel and a vibrating screen – which are being refurbished – will reduce the lead time and capital costs for Arrowsmith North.
With the support of specialist engineering consultancy ProjX, VRX purchased a 3m diameter x 8m long RCR-designed feed trommel and a 3.6 x 8.5m Schenck “banana” vibrating screen. The trommel was previously part of a mineral sands operation and is now at Hotweld Engineering, a Bunbury based mechanical and fabrication workshop.
The screen was previously in used at a lithium processing plant and has been relocated to RCR, a Bunbury based mechanical equipment workshop.
VRX is delighted to have secured these two key pieces of plant equipment for the Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project,” Managing Director. Bruce Maluish, said.
“Our strategy to purchase and refurbish high-quality second-hand major plant equipment has both pre-empted any lead time issues associated with ongoing global supply chain disruption and delivered more than $1 million in capital savings.
“Arrowsmith North is on track to gain final EPA approval in December, with the six-month construction phase scheduled to commence in January 2023.
“VRX will continue to pursue other lead time and cost-saving opportunities to capitalise on our first-mover advantage in Western Australia’s emerging silica sand sector, at a time when there is fast-rising global demand for high-quality, responsibly sourced silica sand volumes.”
The trommel is a key piece of process equipment, comprising a rotating screening barrel mounted over a large sump on a structural steel-base frame. Mined sand passes through the screen panels and is pumped to the processing plant.
The trommel is in excellent condition structurally and an ideal fit-for-purpose item of major process equipment for the project.
The screen has undergone strip and assessment by the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and refurbishment is well underway. Non-destructive testing has revealed no structural issues and the extent of refurbishment required is now likely to be far less than originally anticipated.