Outotec recently announced the award of two mineral processing facility upgrade contracts—one in Botswana and another in Chile. In November, it reported receipt of a contract from BCL Ltd. for modernizing the nickel flash smelting furnace in Selebi Phikwe, Botswana. In addition, the parties have negotiated a service agreement for a period of 36 months. The total value of the arrangement is more than €17 million ($21 million).
BCL’s original nickel smelter was built in the 1970s using Outotec’s flash smelting technology. The scope of Outotec’s modernization work includes the redesign of the flash smelting furnace, delivery of new advanced cooling elements and integrating them into the furnace. The service agreement includes installation and commissioning supervision services, preventive maintenance planning, equipment maintenance and spare parts.
In December, Outotec reported that it had been retained to revamp and upgrade the Potrerillos copper smelter and sulfuric acid plant at Codelco’s Salvador Division in northern Chile, allowing the copper producer to comply with new Chilean environmental regulations that become effective in 2018. The value of the order is approximately €64 million ($79.5 million).
Outotec’s scope of delivery includes detailed engineering of the revamp, equipment supply and technical assistance during the construction, commissioning and startup of the smelter and acid plant. Equipment additions include hoods for the existing converters, revamp of the dry electrostatic and wet precipitators and gas ducts, a catalytic converter and an effluent treatment plant.
