Trigon Metals Stabilizes Water Levels and Maintains Uninterrupted Production from Underground at Kombat Mine, Namibia
Trigon Metals Stabilizes Water Levels and Maintains Uninterrupted
Production from Underground at Kombat Mine, Namibia
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 2024--Trigon Metals Inc. (TSX-V: TM; OTCQB:
PNTZD) (“Trigon” or the “Company”) has executed a plan to address a temporary setback in
underground pumping progress due to the failure of one of its two main dewatering pumps on the
evening of June 14, 2024 at the Company's Kombat mine in Namibia.
The mine had been dewatered down to 331 metres from the shaft collar at the time of the pump
failure and the water has since risen to 227 metres below surface and has remained at that level
for the last 2 weeks.
A new pump body has been ordered from the supplier and is currently scheduled to arrive in
neighbouring South Africa by air on July 21, 2024. The pump will then be transported by road to
Kombat for installation. Installation and repositioning of the completed pumping unit is
estimated to be completed by July 28, 2024.
The failure is localized to the pump body (known as the wet end) and does not extend to the
pump motor and the installed variable speed drive. The causes of the failure have been identified
and are being investigated further with the original manufacturer and supplier of the pump,
Yantai Xinhai Industry & Trade Co., Ltd.
Fanie Muller, VP Operations, “Despite the initial loss of progress in our dewatering, we expect
to recover to our former levels quickly. Throughout the past ten months of dewatering, we have
seen various brief interruptions in pumping. During those periods, we tend to experience an
initial rapid increase in water levels that falls far more quickly than the initial drawdown when
pumping is restored.”
Jed Richardson, CEO and Executive Chairman of Trigon Metals, commented “The pump failure
was managed effectively by our redundancy and backup systems, preventing a flood like the one
in 2007. The original design and contingency planning have been effectively implemented to
ensure continuous and sustainable mine operations at Kombat mine.”
Mining activities continue as normal from the underground operations with mining activities
focused on mining above 120 metres from the shaft collar. The remaining pump is being
monitored continuously and does not show any sign of fatigue or potential failure at this
juncture.
The Company remains focused on underground production from the Asis West underground
complex. The pumping setbacks are not expected to impact plans and projections previously
outlined in the Company’s guidance (see press release issued June 13, 2024).
Qualified Person
The technical information presented in this press release has been reviewed and approved for
disclosure by Fanie Müller, P.Eng, VP Operations of Trigon, who is a Qualified Person as
defined by NI 43-101.
Trigon Metals Inc.
Trigon is a publicly-traded Canadian exploration and development company with its core
business focused on copper and silver holdings in mine-friendly African jurisdictions. Currently,
the company has operations in Namibia and Morocco. In Namibia, the Company holds an 80%
interest in five mining licences in the Otavi Mountainlands, an area of Namibia widely
recognized for its high-grade copper deposits, where the Company is focused on exploration and
re-development of the previously producing Kombat Mine.
Cautionary Notes
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include statements
regarding the Company’s mining operations, the dewatering of the Kombat Mine, the
installation of the water pump and maintenance of equipment, the timing and results of mining
activities the Company’s strategies and the Company’s abilities to execute such strategies, the
Company’s expectations for the Kombat Project, and the Company’s future plans and objectives.
These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the
management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial
statements or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian
securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements, except as required by applicable laws.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is
defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts
For further information:
Aidan Sulivan
+1 647 276 6002
Website: www.trigonmetals.com