The BTRP section retreats previously processed gold ore in the form of slime material. The slimes emanate from historical mining activities on the same orebodies that are currently being mined underground from the existing Barberton Mines underground operations. The feed sources to the BTRP include the Bramber dam, currently contributing up to 10,000 tonnes per month of the BTRP’s 100,000 tonne capacity. A further 70,000 tonnes per month are sourced from the nearby Harper South and Harper North tailings dams that will supply the BTRP with feed material at the current rate for the next three years. The total life of BTRP is modelled at nine years. The additional life is obtained by the remining of the Segalla dam located at New Consort Mine. The remainder of the capacity is filled with residue material from the BIOX® Plant at Fairview Mine at a rate of 13,000 tonnes per month and the Vantage dam at 7,000 tonnes per month.

The BTRP has been designed to treat 100,000 tons tailings per month through a Carbon in Leach circuit using electro-winning and smelting to produce a saleable product. Current tailings from the Fairview Concentrator and the Fairview BIOX(R) plant totalling 14,000 tons per month will be routed via a pipeline to the BTRP for treatment and 86,000 tons per month will be reclaimed from the BTSF.