DASA Site Completes First Large Ventilation Shaft

DASA Site Completes First Large Ventilation Shaft

by | Oct 6, 2024 | Events

Leveraging Advanced Machinery to Build a Safer Mine

6 October, 2024 – the DASA Site has successfully completed the sinking of its first 5.1-meter diameter ventilation shaft. This shaft, along with the second one to be also installed in Niger, forms the backbone of the mine’s ventilation system, enabling production for the initial 10 years.

Drilling such a large-diameter shaft requires extensive expertise, advanced technological resources, and precise organization.

This operation requires a machine with both substantial mechanical power and electrical capacity. The operation utilized the RD7-150 Raise Borer from Master Drilling, a 46-ton DC machine equipped with dual 380 kW motors. This powerful machine can drill holes ranging from 3.1 to 7.1 meters in diameter, generating 7,200 kN of force, and 1,240 Nm of torque, with a power requirement of 1.6 MW.

At DASA, our team successfully drilled a pilot hole with a 4.9-meter (16-inch) diameter, expanding it to a final diameter of 5.1 meters at a depth of 70 meters. This achievement was made possible by the expertise and dedication of our engineers and operators.

The photograph above demonstrates the completed shaft head, while the accompanying video shows the Raise Borer machine in action.

Once operational, this shaft will support an airflow capacity of over 300 m³/s.

Dasa Project – successful visit by Niger’s Mines Minister

Dasa Project – successful visit by Niger’s Mines Minister

by | May 3, 2024 | Events

A Benchmark for Niger’s Mining Future

On May 3, 2024, SOMIDA had the honour of hosting Niger’s Mines Minister, Commissaire Colonel Ousmane Abarchi, along with the Governor of the Agadez Region, local dignitaries, community authorities, and Dasa employees, at the Dasa Project site. The visit was part of the Minister’s tour of significant exploration and mining projects in the Agadez Region of northern Niger.

Key highlights of the visit included:

  • a tour of underground development now exceeding 1,235 meters, with 5 levels of development underway to access the orebody and prepare stopes for mining 
  • a review of the mine design and current 23-year mine plan 
  • the official ceremony to commence earthworks in preparation for plant construction 
  • a review of the plant design and timelines for plant commissioning at the end of 2025 
  • a review of ESG activities and community engagement undertaken since 2008 in the region  
  • the camp expansion area built to accommodate the planned increase from 450 to 900 employees and contractors

At the conclusion of the visit, Minister Abarchi affirmed his commitment to the Dasa Project, stating: “We came here, we visited the mine, and we launched the earth breaking operations for the mill construction. Dasa is a reality everyone can see. We thank you all. We are supportive of the SOMIDA team and Global Atomic. This project is very important for us; as a government and as a shareholder. We want Dasa to be the start of new Niger mining practice with expectations on State Income, Employment, and Environment management.”

With strong government support, Dasa Project is poised to become a benchmark for future mining endeavors in the Republic of Niger.