Delivered for Kumtor Gold Company, the Kumtor Mine project demonstrates MineFill’s ability to develop innovative backfill solutions for challenging and remote mining environments. The study established a practical pathway for implementing paste backfill at one of the world’s highest-altitude gold mining operations.
Client:
Kumtor Gold Company
Location:
Kyrgyzstan
Scope:
Pre-Feasibility Study
Duration:
8 Months
Budget:
AU$0.5M
In 2024, MineFill completed a paste backfill pre-feasibility study for the Kumtor underground project in Kyrgyzstan. The project required a tailored engineering approach due to the site’s unique environmental and operational constraints, including its remote location and extreme elevation.
Working closely with the client, MineFill developed an alternative backfill strategy that utilised proven dry grinding technology to manufacture suitable paste fill from locally available mine waste materials, providing a practical and cost-effective solution for future underground operations.
Project completed
Project budget
The Kumtor project presented several unique challenges due to its location and operating environment. Traditional tailings handling methods were not suitable, with hydraulically placed fill and vacuum filtration presenting significant limitations because of site access constraints and the mine’s extreme elevation.
A new approach was required to develop a technically viable backfill solution capable of supporting underground mining while overcoming these operational challenges.
MineFill developed an innovative backfill concept based on dry grinding technology, adapting proven processes from the cement industry to manufacture paste fill from quartzite mine waste.
The study also incorporated advanced numerical modelling of paste performance and ground support requirements, ensuring the proposed solution could meet both operational and geotechnical objectives while remaining practical for implementation at site.
The completed pre-feasibility study established a clear pathway for implementing paste backfill at Kumtor and provided the technical foundation required for progression into future project stages.
By combining innovative engineering with practical design thinking, MineFill delivered a solution tailored to the unique requirements of one of the world’s highest-altitude gold mining operations.
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Talk to MineFill about your next study, EPC project or operational backfill challenge. Our team can support your project from early-stage planning through to complete system delivery.
