Xstrata hoping to keep the Kidd deep mine running beyond 2020 – by Len Gilles (Timmins Times – March 22, 2013)

http://www.timminstimes.com/

The Xstrata Kidd Mine in Timmins has a life expectancy of perhaps another eight years, but everything is being done to make the mine run as efficiently, as sunstainably and as profitably as possible.

And from that, there is the possibility that maybe, just maybe, another few years of mine life might be found.

That was part of the message Thursday from Xstrata Copper Kidd Operations general manager Tom Semadeni who was the guest speaker at the Timmins Chamber of Commerce luncheon event at the Dante Club.

He said the Kidd mine is still quite large, still quite rich and still expensive to run. The Kidd Mine is not only the deepest mine in Canada, it is the deepest base metal mine in the world at more than 9600 feet down.

Semadeni said that the copper, zinc and silver ore at Kidd is very rich. On the other side of the coin, because the mine is now so deep, everything involved in running the mine is more expensive.

It takes longer for the miners to get from surface down to the work areas. It takes longer to ship equipment and materials from surface to the lower levels. Ventilation and the cost of moving fresh air into the mine and removing stale air and blasting gases is significantly higher. And it takes longer to bring the ore to surface.

The upside for Timmins is that the longer the mine can continue operating, the better it is for the Timmins’ economy. Semadeni explained that the combined operating cost and capital budgets for Xstrata’s Kidd operations is more than $300 million each year and Semadeni said a significant portion of that money gets spent in Timmins

“We do give preference to local goods and services,” he added.

Semadeni said the company recently went through a strategic planning process that resulted in some new directions and goals.

For the rest of this article, please go to the Timmins Times website: http://www.timminstimes.com/2013/03/22/xstrata-hoping-to-keep-the-kidd-deep-mine-running-beyond-2020