SNC-Lavalin has been awarded a contract by the Chuquicamata Division of Codelco Chile to provide overall project management, as well as detailed engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services, for the upgrade of the concentrators at their Chuquicamata mine in Chile. This award follows the initial feasibility study completed by SNC-Lavalin in the first half of 2012.

The scope of the EPCM contract is to upgrade the secondary and tertiary pebble crushing system at their processing facility, allowing it to process 104,000 t/d of ore (2,200 t/h with 80% utilisation). This will be achieved by improving feeders, conveyors, classifiers and crushing units. The total capital cost of the scope under SNC-Lavalin’s management is estimated at $120 million.

“This project is an excellent example of a sustaining capital project for an existing client,” said Dale Clarke, Executive Vice-President, Global Mining & Metallurgy, SNC-Lavalin Group. “Codelco is one of our most valued and long-standing clients, and we appreciate the confidence they have placed in us for the delivery of key sustainable projects in their capital investment program.” Detailed engineering and early construction work on the pebble crushing system are already in progress. The project is scheduled for mechanical completion by the end of the third quarter of 2013.