Filipino thickener contract

Outokumpu Technology has begun work on a contract won against worldwide competition for 10 high-rate thickeners for the Rio Tuba laterite nickel and cobalt mineral processing plant in the Philippines.

The order, worth more than A$4 million, encompasses all thickeners involved in Coral Bay Nickel Corporation's project, a joint venture headed by Sumitomo Metal Mining Co, Ltd and scheduled to commence full operation in the second half of 2004.

It will produce 10,000 tonnes of nickel and 750 tonnes of cobalt a year, worth more than A$100 million (US$54 million) annually or more than A$2 billion (US$1 billion) over the 20 year life of the plant.

Included in the contract are a 20 m thickener for ore preparation, seven 27 m models for counter-current decantation (CCD), a 21 m thickener for neutralisation and a 14 m model for mixed sulfides. The contract includes supply of bridges and mechanisms including full surface treatment, as well as tank fabrication drawings.

Design and drafting work in Outokumpu's Perth and Sydney offices in Australia will be followed by fabrication work in the Philippines, scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2003.