The construction and installation of the 2.74 km, six-inch diameter steel waterline between 3 de Mayo and a water storage tanks is approximately 81% complete (Figure 4). Assembly of water storage tanks is advancing rapidly with completion estimated at approximately 85% for two tanks and the third tank at 50% completion. Water to supply the mill will be initially pumped into a water storage tanks and then gravity fed to a freshwater storage tank at the mill processing facility. The third tank is for recovered processing water. All three water storage tanks are expected to be fully operational late January and be ready for the mill entering initial production.
PROCESSING PLANT
Crushing
Work on the crushing circuit is underway and estimated to be completed near the end of January 2022.
Milling
Work continues on the assembly of the ore bin, and ball mill is installed with mill precision alignment underway. It is estimated that the ball mill will be operational near the end of January 2022.
Flotation
The flotation circuit assemble is largely complete and initial testing with water has been successfully completed. This area will be fully operational by mid-January 2022.
Concentrate Filtration
Connection work continues with filter installation complete and concentrate filtration is estimated to fully operational by the third week of January 2022.
Tailings Thickening, Filtration and Storage
Preparation of the tailings’ thickening area has been completed and installation of press filter equipment will be underway early January. Installation is targeted to be completed near the end of January.
Work continues on the dry stack tailing storage facility and although not estimated to be fully completed until mid-late February, adequate tailings storage capacity is available for initial production.
ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION
Diesel Generation
Electrical power will be supplied by Aggreko North America initially, with diesel generators under an Aggreko build and operate business arrangement. All required generators have been delivered to Tahuehueto site, are mounted in place and operational. Final connection and power line installation for the plant is underway and estimated to be completed during January.
Natural Gas Generation
The project is waiting for the granting of permits for natural gas fired power generation. It is estimated that permits will be in place for gas-fired electricity generation during the second half of 2022, and at that time electrical power generation will be converted by Aggreko from diesel fuel generation to natural gas fueled power generation by swapping out power generation equipment.
Altaley is pleased and excited to report that the Tahuehueto Mine construction is very near completion, and we anticipate entering a pre-production phase at half capacity during February 2022, producing and selling gold rich lead and zinc concentrates as the project initiates production and ramps up operations over the next several months with installation of a second ball mill to reach anticipated production at approximately 1,000 tonnes per day. Management hopes to be able to declare commercial production during the last half of 2022 as soon as the mine reaches a continuous state of production at 80% of management’s expectations. |