All expansion works required the services of specialised contractors such as electrical engineers, civil construction, fabrication, concreting, crane operations, and other engineering services. All contractors are sourced locally wherever possible, encapsulating the Company’s strong commitment in supporting the local economy. Commissioning of the Jaw Crusher for the Crushing Plant In July 2023, a mobile jaw crusher was integrated into the crushing circuit to reduce the oversized -700mm ore from the open pit blasting to a more manageable -170mm fraction, significantly reducing the amount of oversize material. It has also resulted in the volume of oversize material separated during the initial screening phase of the circuit being dramatically minimised with feed input optimised. Crushing and Screening Plant with the Cone Crusher at the forefront. Commissioning of TOMRA 3 During the last quarter of 2023 financial year, a third XRT Ore Sorter (‘Tomra 3) was acquired. Over the past 12-months of operating and sorting the LowGrade Stockpile (“LGS”) material, the Company has seen an average of 10-12% mass yield from the feed to concentrate and has optimised the processing parameters to maximise tungsten recoveries. Since starting to process the primary ore from the Andy White open pit an increased mass yield ranging between 15-18% on the open cut ore has been achieved, with stable WO3 recoveries above 95%. TOMRA 3 was commissioned in July 2023 and is in full operation at the time of this report. Operating and Financial Review continued With the commencement open pit ore deliveries, the operations have experienced a higher proportion of material in the sortable fraction, which is an overall benefit to the operation due to the low-cost nature of XRT Ore Sorting. TOMRA 3 will be put in place of the original Pilot XRT Ore Sorter (“TOMRA 1”) which will undergo refurbishment works before being placed back into the circuit. Tomra 3 has the advantage of newer programming and increased efficiencies, therefore the operation is expecting to see immediate benefits to production. Whilst the preparation, receipt and installation of TOMRA 3 and replacement of TOMRA 1 led to downtime during Q4 the subsequent increases in concentrate outputs has far outweighed this lost time. Newly commissioned TOMRA 3 Ore Sorter. Gravity Plant Upgrades This year, significant enhancements were made to the Gravity Plant, boosting operational efficiency: − First three aging conveyors replaced with a more efficient model, enhancing feed throughput. − Introduction of a cone crusher circuit, replacing the rolls crusher, improving the Plant’s reliability and performance. − Reduced reliance on external crushing contractors by internally processing 40mm sorter product, enhancing self-sufficiency and offering cost savings. − Revamped the Plant’s feeding area with new conveyors and ramps, optimising material handling. − New Schenk Dewatering Screen and larger rolls crushers installed to double the Plant’s capacity. − A second Mineral Jig, set for commissioning in Q3 2023, will further enhance capacity. − Post-year end, eight concentrate shaking tables were added, increasing output, with two stacks of four shaking tables planned to optimise mineral separation processes. These upgrades underscore our dedication to innovation and establish us as a forefront tungsten producer for the Western World. 8 EQ Resources Limited Annual Report 2023
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