Boliden Harjavalta selected Metso Outotec’s SMD grinding mills to improve the capacity of its slag concentrator.
Based on tests, the Metso Stirred Media Detritor, specialized for fine grinding applications, was chosen as the grinding technology, Metso reported. “Now the slag concentrator can process larger amounts of material, without compromising the targets set for copper recovery,” Timo Sarvijärvi, head of mining, Nordics market area, Metso Outotec, said.
In 2019, Boliden Harjavalta produced 120,000 metric tons (mt) of copper and 26,000 mt of nickel.
The order has been booked in Metso Minerals’ Q2 2020 orders received.
Metso also reported it booked a $15 million contract from Lynas Kalgoorlie for the supply of a large rotary kiln and combustion system for baking rare earth minerals.
The companies will develop a rotary kiln system for Lynas’ new cracking and leaching plant in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia. The plant will process concentrate from the Mount Weld mine and provide an intermediate feed for further processing to produce neodymium and praseodymium.
Lynas described the order as an important milestone in the development of its Kalgoorlie processing plant. “The project is progressing to schedule and we look forward to working with Metso Outotec on the engineering and supply of the kiln,” Amanda Lacaze, managing director, CEO, Lynas, said.
Commissioning of the kiln is calendared for 2022.
Elsewhere, Outotec reported it won a $23 million contract from La Sino-Congo-laise des Mines SA (Sicomines) for delivery of a modular VSF X copper solvent extraction plant to the latter’s project near Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The scope of the contract includes basic engineering, technology and equipment deliveries, and advisory services for mechanical installation, commissioning and start-up.
Outotec said the order would be fast-tracked. “The Sicomines project will be a great reference for Outotec in the active African copper/cobalt market,” Kalle Härkki, head of Outotec’s Metals Refining business, said.
