Current Projects

A summary of GRD Minproc's active projects.

Tenke Fungurume Copper/Cobalt Project (DRC)

Client: Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Tenke site photo July 2008Early in 2007, GRD Minproc was awarded the engineering, procurement and construction management contract by Freeport - McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., who acquired Phelps Dodge Corporation, for the landmark Tenke Fungurume Project in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This US$1.8 billion project is positioned to be the first major greenfields project in a rapidly stabilising DRC, following decades of civil war.  GRD Minproc personnel from Perth, Brisbane and Johannesburg have been involved in this project which has transitioned to the construction phase.

Smokey Hills PGM Project (South Africa)

Client: Platinum Australia Limited

GRD Minproc was chosen to carry out the EPCM contract for this $49 million project in July 2007. The work involves the design and construction of a processing plant and related infrastructure.

Located in the Limpopo Province, north of Johannesburg, the Smokey Hills Project will produce platinum group metals.

Essakane Gold Project (Burkina Faso)

Client: Orezone Resources Inc.

Early in 2008, GRD Minproc was awarded the EPCM contract for processing facilities at the Essakane Gold Project. This contract follows completion of the definitive feasibility study (DFS) by GRD Minproc's Johannesburg office during 2007.

Phu Kham Copper/Gold Project (Laos)

Client: PanAust Limited

GRD Minproc has been awarded a contract to complete the engineering and procurement for the US$40 million concentrator expansion at the Phu Kham Copper/Gold operation in Laos.

The contract with PanAust is through its Laos-based entity Phu Bia Mining Limited and is part of work being undertaken to increase the capacity of the existing Phu Kham concentrator by 33 per cent, from 12 Mt/a to 16 Mt/a.

The work is being undertaken from GRD Minproc's new Brisbane office and carried out in two stages. The first being project definition and conceptual engineering; the second stage is detailed engineering and procurement.

Niquel do Vermelho Project (Brasil)

Client: Vale

Following completion of the Niquel do Vermelho feasibility studies by GRD Minproc, Vale awarded GRD Minproc the EPCM contract for it's A$1.6 billion (US$1.2 billion) nickel laterite project in Brasil.

Located in the northern Brasilian state of Para in the Carajas region, the Niquel do Vermelho project will produce 46,000 tonnes of nickel cathode, 2,800 tonnes of cobalt cathode and 500 tonnes of copper per annum.

GRD Minproc has been associated with the project since November 2002 when it was appointed by Vale to conduct studies to determine preferred flowsheets for the project. Following the successful completion of this work, Vale selected the mixed hydroxide precipitation route and in 2003, Vale engaged GRD Minproc to conduct the engineering and estimating components of a pre-feasibility study and then a final feasibility study to investigate the viability of the project. The completion of the feasibility study in March 2005 led to the approval of the project by the Board of Vale and the award of the EPCM contract to GRD Minproc.

Lancashire Waste Partnership Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Project, United Kingdom

Client: Global Renewables

Thornton site photo July 2008GRD Minproc, in joint venture with Bovis Lend Lease, finalised the proposal and pricing for the Lancashire Waste Project, enabling commercial and financial close of the project to be achieved in early 2007.

The joint venture undertaking the construction of the Lancashire Waste Project is the 'Waste 2 Resources - Project Lancashire Limited Liability Partnership (W2R)' with a 50:50 ownership between GRD Minproc and Bovis Lend Lease.

Work is currently underway on two UR-3R™ facilities and associated infrastructure at two sites in Lancashire - Leyland and Thornton. A W2R project office was established in Preston, close to the Leyland site. In addition, a project office was also set-up to house the Perth-based design team.

Ravensthorpe Nickel Project (Western Australia)

Client: BHP Billiton

Ravensthorpe site photoGRD Minproc, in joint venture with Hatch Associates, completed the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract for this major nickel laterite project in Western Australia. Prior to the appointment to the EPCM contract, the Ravensthorpe Joint Venture completed the prefeasibility study (PFS) and the definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the project.

GRD Minproc has subsequently been engaged to provide ongoing engineering services on the Ravensthorpe Nickel Project.  

Munali Nickel Project (Zambia)

Client: Albidon Limited

In April 2007, GRD Minproc was awarded the EPCM contract for the 8,500 t/a Munali Nickel Concentrator Project in Zambia. The scope includes the review of the engineering, procurement, logistics and construction management.

This project is one of the few nickel sulphide development projects due to come on stream within the next ten years.

Syama Gold Project (Mali)

Client: Resolute Mining Limited

GRD Minproc was appointed by Resolute Mining to design, procure and construct a concentrate roasting facility to produce gold from refractory ore.

Located in the south of Mali, West Africa, the mine had been on care and maintenance in 2001, prior to its acquisition by Resolute. Following some additional test-work, an alternative process was adopted.