The Spence Project is a copper ore deposit located in Chile's Region II, approximately 65 km south-west of the city of Calama in northern Chile. The project includes an open pit mine, crushing, conveying, dynamic heap leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX/EW) facilities that will produce a nominal 200,000 tons per year of high quality cathode copper. The infrastructure development will include highway relocation, maintenance facilities, a water pipeline and offices.
Initial work will involve a revision of the existing feasibility study including several trade-off studies with the intent to incorporate and advance technical developments from other recent successfully completed SX/EW projects, including the BHP Billiton owned Tintaya Oxide Project, also executed by Aker Kvaerner in Peru. This will be followed with basic engineering and commencement of detailed engineering prior to formal BHP Billiton approval.
Peter Bond, President of Aker Kvaerner's global Metals business, said, "I am pleased that BHP Billiton has recognized that Aker Kvaerner has the technological capabilities, project management systems, and most importantly, the experienced personnel required to successfully complete a project of this size."
The work will be executed from Aker Kvaerner's offices in Santiago, Chile.
For further information:
Media:
Patricio Searle, Aker Kvaerner, Santiago, Chile: Tel: +562 336 3519 or Email: patricio.searle@akerkvaerner.com
Investor Relations:
Tore Langballe, Vice President IR, Aker Kvaerner. Tel: +47 67 51 3106
Note to editors:
Aker Kvaerner is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. Group activities span a number of industries, including Oil and Gas upstream and downstream, Process, Pharmaceuticals, Metals, Power, Chemical Pulping, Environmental and Shipbuilding. Aker Kvaerner is a multi-local group of businesses with nearly USD 6 billion of annual revenues and around 33 000 employees in more than 30 countries.