Avenira Ltd has appointed Wood PLC as its Lead Engineering Contractor for the Bankable Feasibility Study currently underway for its 80% owned Baobab Phosphate Project in Senegal. Wood will have a lead role in completing the study for the targeted 1 Mt/y nameplate capacity expansion and upgrade of the existing beneficiation plant at the Gadde Bissik mine. The study will build on the conceptual study conducted by Hatch in 2017, and on the experience accumulated during the actual mining activities on site since 2016.

Managing Director and CEO Louis Calvarin commented: “Wood is a first class mining and processing team to the Gadde Bissik Expansion and Upgrade investment project. We are very pleased to be working with them as lead engineers: we have a winning combination in place.” The objective of the study is to provide a definitive design basis for detailed engineering and construction management, for a plant producing high quality phosphate rock concentrate with a nominal capacity of 1 Mt/y of concentrate. The scope of the Study includes mining, processing and a tailings storage facility. Wood will develop operating and capital cost estimates to approximately +/-10% accuracy. This will also provide for detailed economic modelling to assist in raising funds to advance the project into commercial production.

The Study will follow a two-stage approach. Phase 1 is a Feasibility Study to deliver an AACE Class 4 cost estimate and is projected to be completed by early July 2018. Phase 2 will deliver a Bankable Feasibility Study including an AACE Class 3 cost estimate and is projected to be completed by end 2018.