Outotec announced it has received contracts to deliver a zinc concentrate direct leaching system to a large Scandinavian mining operation and a modular solvent extraction system to a South American copper project. The combined value of the contracts is in the range of €40-50 million.
Outotec will provide zinc concentrate direct leaching and iron precipitation technologies and site services for Boliden’s Odda zinc production facilities in Norway. The value of the contract was not disclosed, but Outotec said these systems typically cost in the range of €10-20 million, depending on the scope.
Boliden is currently investing in an expansion at the Odda plant that will increase output from 170,000 to 200,000 mt/y of zinc. The Odda plant has been using Outotec’s atmospheric zinc concentrate direct leaching process since 2004, according to the company, and has become a benchmark in low emissions, high metal recoveries and operational safety.
Outotec’s solution comprises the direct leaching technology, basic and detailed engineering and delivery of proprietary reactor plant units for leaching and iron precipitation as well as filters and anode handling machines. In addition, Outotec will provide engineering, installation, commissioning and start-up services. The deliveries will take place during 2015 and 2016.
It also reported that it will provide modular solvent extraction technology to an undisclosed brownfield copper production plant in South America. The contract is valued at approximately €30 million.
Outotec said the customer is making changes to its heap leaching operation to enhance the copper recovery from secondary sulphide minerals. These changes in the leaching phase require an upgrade in the downstream solvent extraction plant washing capacity. Outotec’s solution comprises its VSFX Modular Solvent Extraction technology, including technology license, engineering, proprietary and auxiliary equipment and advisory services for installation, commissioning and startup. Deliveries will take place in 2015.
Outotec developed the VSFX Modular Solvent Extraction concept over several years and launched the technology at the end of 2013, noting that it has observed an increasing demand for the concept in brownfield optimization projects and greenfield plants.
