Aspire Mining Limited announced hat O2 Mining Limited (O2) has completed Stage 2 of the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) Study for the Erdenet Rail Terminal (ERT) infrastructure and issued its report outlining the design and cost estimate (FEED Study). Key outcomes from Stage 2 of the FEED Study include: Conceptual designs for process infrastructure including train loadout facility of 1,700 tonnes per hour (tph), enclosed storage of 58,500 tonnes, and truck unload facility of 750 tph nominal capacities. Conceptual designs for all non-process related supporting commercial and residential facilities, including the internal road network, site lighting and security, raw and wastewater reticulation, and electricity supply.

Preparation of all conceptual designs compliant with the Construction Code of Mongolia and the National Fire Protection Authority (NFPA) requirements in relation to the process infrastructure. Optimisation of infrastructure layout allowing for future expansion, potentially enabling the doubling of the throughput with minimal additional capital expenditure and indicatively a one third reduction in unit operating cost. Engineering supportive of -10 to +25 per cent accuracy of capital and operating cost estimates.

The wide range reflects the current difficulties in securing firm quotations.