Sedgman has been awarded a A$133 million EPC contract for a project at the Groote Eylandt Mining Co (GEMCO) manganese mine. Groote Eylandt is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory, Australia. GEMCO is a BHP Billiton 60% Anglo American 40% joint venture, operated by BHP Billiton, that celebrated 50 years in operation last year. BHP Billiton’s Australian manganese business is the largest seaborne producer of the ore in the world, exporting to markets in China, India, Korea, Japan and Europe. In its first 50 years GEMCO has exported more than 80 Mt of manganese ore.

The project will increase the facility’s capacity by 0.5 Mt/y by re-processing manganese ore stored in tailings stockpiles. Sedgman’s scope of work comprises the detailed design, supply, fabrication, construction and commissioning of a sands beneficiation plant, port stockpile expansion and associated infrastructure.

Sedgman Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Peter Watson explained: “Our involvement in this project commenced at the early feasibility study stage and we are excited that we have been chosen to deliver the project. The sands beneficiation plant utilises process technologies that we have proven in other commodities and we have been able to leverage this experience together with our successful track record of project delivery in remote locations to provide an enhanced solution for our client.”

Detailed design has commenced on the project with completion scheduled for March 2016.

The picture is courtesy of Calibre Consulting, which designed the 35 m x 36 m x 21 m high extension to GEMCO’s heavy mining equipment servicing facility on Groote Eylandt.