Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations (RNO), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BHP Billiton, is developing a mine and processing facility near the town of Ravensthorpe in Western Australia. The new acid plant associated with the project will have a production capacity of 4400 metric tons per day.
The project will be managed from Aker Kvaerner's Chemetics-division's office in Vancouver, Canada, where it will also carry out the majority of the engineering. The Chemetics-division will be supported by other Aker Kvaerner companies including Kvaerner Industrial Constructors (KIC) who will manage site construction.
Following a rigorous tendering process that included competition from all the leading world-wide acid plant contractors, RNO selected Chemetics to supply the acid plant based on evaluated technical and commercial merits. Chemetics' focus on offering first class technology combined with reliable project execution has recently helped to secure several significant contracts and firmly establish its position as the world's leading acid plant contractor.
Technology:
Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations will utilize its Enhanced Pressure Acid Leach (EPAL) hydrometallurgical process at the new plant. This process is a combination of pressure acid leach and atmospheric leach and produces a mixed nickel and cobalt hydroxide intermediate product (MHP). The MHP will contain up to 50,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) nickel and 1400tpa cobalt that will be packaged and shipped through the Port of Esperance to Townsville for final refining at the QNI Yabulu Refinery.
The EPAL process requires large quantities of sulphuric acid and high pressure steam, which will be supplied by the new sulphur burning acid plant.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Media:
Andrew Berryman, Senior Sales Manager, Chemetics, Canada; Tel: +1 604 737 4481
Torbjorn Andersen, VP Group Communications, Aker Kvaerner; Tel: +1 713 270 3618 or +1 281 250 7286
Investor relations:
Lasse Torkildsen, VP Group Investor Relations, Aker Kværner ASA, Tel: +47 67 51 30 39
AKER KVÆRNER ASA
, through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Kvaerner"), is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. The business within Aker Kvaerner span a number of industries, including Oil & Gas production, Refining & Chemicals, Mining & Metals, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology, Power Generation and Pulp & Paper. Aker Kvaerner has aggregated annual revenues of approximately USD 4.5 billion and employs around 21,000 employees in more than 30 countries. The Aker Kvaerner group consists of a number of separate legal entities. Aker Kvaerner is used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities. The parent company in the group is Aker Kværner ASA.
Oil, Gas, Process & Energy
executes technology development, engineering and construction services for industries as diverse as Oil & Gas Onshore and Offshore Developments, Chemicals & Polymers, Pharmaceuticals, Government Services, and Mining & Metals. With an annual turnover of US$1.14 billion, Oil, Gas, Process & Energy (OGPE) business area of Aker Kvaerner employs more than 5,400 people operating worldwide.
Chemetics
is a process technology company offering engineered systems, proprietary equipment, and complete turnkey plants, to the chemical, water treatment, fertiliser, pulp and paper and non-ferrous metals industries world-wide. We provide innovative processes that enhance performance and productivity while protecting the environment. Our cost-effective solutions result in plants that are safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally acceptable. To maintain our leadership position, we are constantly refining our technologies and developing our know-how through significant R&D expenditures to ensure that our products and services continue to meet the needs of the customers and industries we serve.
This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer, see our web-pages www.akerkvaerner.com