Plan for tungsten mining operation

A NEW multi-million-dollar plan has been drawn up which would see Plymouth’s enormous tungsten mine in production by the end of next year.

- WILLIAM TELFORD

The mine, at Hemerdon near Plympton, could be producing 500,000 metric tonnes of tungsten, and almost as much tin, each year, with a vision for the mine to be in operation for up to 40 years.

Bosses at Tungsten West Plc have published a Development and Economic Plan for the mine, the world’s second largest tungsten resource, which would see it produce about 20% of the global supply, outside of China. Restarting mining at Hemerdon would cost about US$93m (about £69m), which will be used to build a completely new crushing, screening and ore sorting plant, with additional processing equipment to enhance performance, cost and recovery, and a full refurbishment of the existing Mineral Processing Facility (MPF) at the mine.