Philippine Gold Processing & Refining Corp (PGPRC), a wholly owned subsidiary of B2Gold, is the owner of the mineral processing facility at the Masbate mine in the Philippines.
Masbate’s original throughput was 4 Mtpa and an expansion has recently been completed to increase throughput to 6.5 Mtpa of ore at a grind size of 150 µm with design provision for a further expansion up to 8 Mtpa at 106 µm with the addition of an extra ball mill at a later date.
Lycopodium has an established and valued relationship with B2Gold having been involved with studies and development of B2Gold’s Otjikoto project in Namibia and Fekola mine in Mali. Lycopodium also has detailed understanding of the Masbate project having completed the detailed design and provided commissioning services when the mine was first opened in 2009. More recently Lycopodium completed a scoping study that looked at various expanded throughput options and completed the engineering and procurement (EP) services for the 6.5 Mtpa expansion project.
This 6.5 Mtpa expansion project has recently been commissioned and is producing at or above nameplate capacity. PGPRC is now considering advancing the further 8 Mtpa expansion project with the addition of an extra ball mill.
