From Pit Shell to Schedule: Nickel Life-of-Mine Planning

The client commissioned a new concentrator to treat lower-grade open pit ore. Key project parameters had moved since the Bankable Feasibility Study, and the first constrained optimisation showed a net loss of about 10 million tonnes of ore against the BFS reserve.

The main challenges that the Open Pit Life-of-Mine study had to solbe incliding the re-optimisation of the operation's two pit areas using an updated block model, prices and contractor costs. The next challenges was to transform the shell into a practical, geotechnically compliant pit with ramps, berms and pushbacks that give access flexibility and allow waste stripping to be deferred, while incorporating a puschback strategy.

A coordinated approach was followed to ensure that the various technical inputs and activities contributed meaningfully to the overall project objective. Particular emphasis was placed on producing outputs that were technically sound, clearly documented and appropriate for their intended use. The completed scope provided the client with an accessible and reviewable set of findings that could support decision-making and guide further project development.