Tag Archives: Planet Positive

Keliber to use Metso Outotec’s Planet Positive leaching technology at lithium refinery

Energy minerals, Environmental, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , ,

Sibanye-Stillwater’s subsidiary Keliber has partnered with Metso Outotec to provide its sustainable soda pressure leaching technology for Keliber’s lithium hydroxide refinery, which will be built in Kokkola, Finland.

Keliber owns the advanced lithium project located in the Kaustinen region of Finland, which intends to be one of the first integrated operations in Europe to sustainably produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide using its own ore. In addition, Metso Outotec will provide key processes for Keliber’s concentrator plant, which will be located on the border of Kaustinen and Kronoby municipalities in Finland.

Following the approval for the Keliber lithium project by Sibanye-Stillwater’s board, as announced on November 28, 2022, the first and biggest technology contract has now been signed. The combined order value is approximately €120 million ($128 million), of which approximately €80 million is committed for the Kokkola lithium hydroxide refinery. The planned production of the lithium hydroxide refinery is 15,000 t/y of lithium hydroxide monohydrate.

Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery consists of the engineering and supply of most of the equipment for the lithium hydroxide refinery, as well as installation and commissioning services and training. For the concentrator plant, Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery includes engineering and supply of all the main equipment.

Hannu Hautala, CEO of Keliber, said: “Metso Outotec’s Planet Positive portfolio, which focuses on the most environmentally-efficient technologies, supports the potential for the Keliber project to be a world-class lithium hydroxide producer, that is among the most sustainable in the world.”

Metso Outotec has developed lithium hard-rock-related technologies for some 20 years, and collaboration with Keliber started already in the early 2000s.

Heikki Pekkarinen, Chief Project Officer, said: “The lithium hydroxide production process has been successfully tested with Keliber’s concentrate in Metso Outotec’s pilot plant during the last few years. Metso Outotec has also provided the basic engineering for the refinery, which has given us a well-based detailed technical and economic performance review of the plant. During the planning and piloting stages, new initiatives were also developed to improve the environmental and production performance of both plants.”

Markku Teräsvasara, President of the Minerals business area at Metso Outotec, said: “We are excited that Metso Outotec has been selected as a partner for Keliber’s world-class concentrator plant and refinery project. Our proprietary soda pressure leaching technology will enable exceptional material and energy efficiency for the lithium hydroxide refinery, contributing to the sustainability and profitability of the whole project.”

Metso Outotec confirms Premier grinding mill order for West African’s Kiaka gold project

Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Precious metals, , , , , , , , , ,

Australia-based West African Resources has awarded Metso Outotec an order for state-of-the-art comminution equipment worth €30 million ($32 million) to be delivered to its greenfield Kiaka gold project in Burkina Faso.

Metso Outotec’s delivery includes two Planet Positive Premier™ grinding mills with a total installed power of 27 MW, as well as Metso Outotec’s proprietary metal and rubber mill linings and spare parts.

Kiaka, an asset with 7.7 Moz of reserves and resources on its books, is West African Resources’ second gold mine in the country on top of its operating Sanbrado asset.

WAF’s feasibility study, released in August 2022, outlined pre-production capital costs of $430 million and a 2.5-year pre-tax pay back at a $1,750/oz gold price for the project. Kiaka was expected to operate over an 18.5-year life of mine, producing, on average, 219,000 oz/y of gold (on a 100% basis).

Matt Scully, Project Director, West African Resources, said: “We are pleased to again team up with Metso Outotec for this project. West African is in an exciting growth phase, as we aim to be a multi-project, producing more than 400,000 oz/y of gold in 2025.”

Oskar Gustavson, Technology Director, Grinding at Metso Outotec, said: “The Premier SAG mill to be delivered to the Kiaka project is one of the largest gear-driven grinding mills in the world with its 18 MW of installed power. The Premier ball mill has been designed to pair smoothly with the SAG mill. Both mills are equipped with fail-safe Metso Outotec Polymer Hydrostatic Shoe Bearing systems, significantly increasing reliability and reducing maintenance costs. We are delighted to work with West African Resources on this project.”

Metso Outotec to deliver two sulphuric acid plants to Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Company

Base metals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Company (AMMC) has awarded Metso Outotec an order worth €70 million ($74 million) for the delivery of two sulphuric acid plants to be built for its zinc roasting facility in Almalyk, Uzbekistan.

Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery includes the design and delivery of Planet Positive equipment for two gas cleaning and sulphuric acid plants, which will process all off-gases from the zinc roasters into industrial-grade sulphuric acid, Metso Outotec says. In addition, Metso Outotec will deliver utility facilities, such as a common cooling tower system and a common air compressor system.

The two plants to be delivered by Metso Outotec will be identical and replace AMMC’s existing facilities for gas cleaning and sulphuric acid production, it said. The plants will improve operational efficiency and reliability and significantly reduce the facilities’ environmental impact, the company added, with the plants expected to be operational by the end of the second half of 2025.

Hannes Storch, Vice President, Metal and Chemical Processing at Metso Outotec, said: “We are extremely pleased that Almalyk has again selected us as the partner for providing gas cleaning and sulphuric acid technology. Metso Outotec’s advanced Planet Positive gas cleaning and sulphuric acid plant solution will improve the environmental performance of AMMC’s metallurgical operations.”

Metso Outotec to deliver VSF X technology to Kyzyl Aray Copper project

Base metals, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec says it has signed an agreement with Kyzyl Aray Copper, a subsidiary of Caravan Resources, for the supply of copper solvent extraction and electrowinning technology for a plant to be built in the Karagandy region of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The order of approximately €35 million ($37 million) covers a technology package delivery that includes the modular VSF®X solvent extraction plant and the main process equipment for the electrowinning plant.

Mikko Rantaharju, Vice President, Hydrometallurgy, at Metso Outotec, said: “We are looking forward to working with Kyzyl Aray Copper on this project. The energy-efficient VSF X solvent extraction plant, which is part of our Planet Positive product range, reduces emissions and is safe to operate.

“The Kyzyl Aray Copper project will become an important new reference for Metso Outotec in the growing Kazakhstan copper market as a supplier of a complete production plant that uses solvent extraction and electrowinning technology for copper recovery.”

Metso Outotec says its Vertical Smooth Flow (VSF) plants offer lower lifetime costs, significantly shorter lead times and sustainable life-cycle technology built on decades of experience in solvent extraction.

Eldorado turns to Metso Outotec for dry stack tailings solution at Skouries

Base metals, Environmental, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining project news, Water management, , , , , , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec says it will deliver sustainable filtration technology for dry stacking of tailings to Eldorado Gold’s Hellas Gold Skouries copper-gold concentrator project in northern Greece.

Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery consists of the engineering, manufacturing and supply of several Planet Positive Larox® FFP3512 filters as well as installation and commissioning advisory services. The fully automatic, fast-opening filter press (FFP) combines the benefits of membrane technology and sidebar design with high mechanical and process performance, providing safe and sustainable high-volume dewatering of tailings at low operating and life cycle costs, according to the company.

Brock Gill, SVP Projects & Transformation for Eldorado Gold, said: “Skouries is a world-class project, and we are aiming for best-in-class sustainable technologies in the project design. For tailings management, the Skouries project will use dry stack tailings impoundment, which requires less space, reduces water consumption and maximises recovery of process water for reuse. Metso Outotec filters were selected as key and proven technology for the dry tailings facility not only because of their performance, but also because of their energy efficiency.”

Jussi Venäläinen, Vice President, Filtration business line at Metso Outotec, added: “Eldorado Gold and Hellas Gold were looking for a reliable partner to help ensure the safety and sustainability of the Skouries tailings dry stacking facility. We are pleased having been chosen to deliver this core technology for the project. Previously, we’ve supplied proprietary technologies for grinding, flotation, thickening and automation to Skouries.”

The value of the order is approximately €14 million ($13.8 million), according to Metso Outotec.

Metso Outotec says its filtration product portfolio is the largest in the field, with the company having carried out over 14,000 filtration tests and delivered more than 5,000 filters for various applications worldwide.

A 2021 feasibility study on Skouries highlighted a 20-year operation able to produce 140,000 oz/y of gold and 67 MIb (30,391 t) of copper.

Metso Outotec to supply direct blister furnace to Kamoa-Kakula operations

Automation, Base metals, Environmental, Metallurgy, Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

Kamoa Copper SA has selected Metso Outotec to supply a high-capacity direct blister furnace to the company’s copper mining complex expansion project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The value of this type of a delivery is typically between €30-40 million ($30-40 million).

Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery consists of key equipment and automation for the direct blister furnace designed for the production of blister copper in a single flash furnace without the need for separate converting stages. The 500,000 t/y copper throughput furnace will have the largest licensed flash smelting capacity in the world, according to Metso Outotec.

The scope also includes intelligent safety and monitoring automation systems for the furnace.

Jyrki Makkonen, Vice President, Smelting at Metso Outotec, said: “Non-ferrous metals play a key role in the green transition, and a major increase in global copper production is required to support this transition. We are pleased to support Kamoa Copper in their ambitious expansion project, in which high capacity and reliable, sustainable processes play a vital role. Our collaboration has been excellent throughout the initial stages of the process, including the initial study work, basic engineering as well as pilot testing.”

Metso Outotec has delivered more than 60 flash furnaces around the world since the 1950s, with the technology being the most used in pyrometallurgical copper production. The Metso Outotec Flash Smelting Process is, the company says, the cleanest smelting method available and part of the company’s Planet Positive offering.

Last month in its quarterly report, Ivanhoe Mines, which has a 39.6% interest in Kamoa-Kakula, said a new 500,000 t/y direct-to-blister flash smelter was to be constructed as part of the Phase 3 expansion at the mine.

Upon commencement of Phase 3 production, the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex will have a processing capacity in excess of 14 Mt/y, with increased copper production capacity of approximately 600,000 t/y. This production rate will position the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex as the third-largest copper mining operation in the world, according to Ivanhoe.

Commissioning is expected in the December quarter of 2024.

Metso Outotec launches direct reduced iron smelting furnace to further decarbonise steel sector

Environmental, Mineral processing, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec is launching the innovative DRI (direct reduced iron) Smelting Furnace to, it says, substitute blast furnaces used in iron and steel making.

The DRI Smelting Furnace is one of Metso Outotec’s key solutions for decarbonisation of the iron and steel industry, which currently produces about 8% of the global carbon dioxide emissions.

Jyrki Makkonen, Vice President, Smelting at Metso Outotec, said:“The DRI Smelting Furnace is a true breakthrough technology. It will help the iron and steel industry to reach their CO2 emission reduction targets and limit global warming. The new high-capacity 6-in-line DRI Smelting Furnace is part of Metso Outotec’s Planet Positive offering, which is focused on environmentally efficient technologies.”

Kimmo Vallo, Product Manager, DRI Smelting Furnace at Metso Outotec, said: “Combined with a direct reduction plant, the DRI Smelting Furnace will substitute blast furnaces in the production of hot metal. This is an optimal solution for primary steel producers aiming for a significant reduction in their CO2 emissions with minimal changes to the rest of the steel plant. The furnace can be integrated with Metso Outotec’s hydrogen-based CircoredTM process or other direct reduction processes.”

Timo Haimi, Senior Sales Manager, Smelting, added: “The DRI Smelting Furnace enables the use of easily available blast furnace-grade iron ore instead of DRI-grade iron ore by managing bigger slag volumes than what scrap melting electric arc furnaces (EAF) are capable of.”

DRI Smelting Furnace technology is based on existing Metso Outotec equipment. The furnace and related products are complete and ready for implementation, according to the company. Customer-specific pilot-scale testing will be conducted in the Metso Outotec research facilities to demonstrate large-scale DRI smelting.

The company said: “DRI smelting technology development continues to further optimise the process for customer-specific feed materials and to complement Metso Outotec’s Planet Positive offering for decarbonisation of the iron and steel industry.”

Metso Outotec’s DRI Smelting Furnace provides the following benefits:

  • Flexible for any DRI feed;
  • High productivity with capacity above 1.2 Mt/y;
  • Continuous production of hot metal with high availability and long campaign life;​
  • Capable of handling large slag volumes;
  • Possibility to change slag chemistry to achieve high iron yields and good-quality slag;
  • Minimal changes to existing steel plant; and
  • Furnace off-gas can be used as energy or in a carbon capture and storage process.

Metso Outotec accelerates return on investment with Flotation Plant Unit introduction

Automation, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec is introducing what it says is another innovative plant concept, Flotation Plant Units, to its minerals processing portfolio.

The solution provides unparalleled metallurgical performance by seamlessly integrating functional design with a comprehensive scope, leading to high operational reliability and a fast return on investment, according to the company. Compared with the traditional delivery, Flotation Plant Units result in the earliest time-to-volume, it says.

Tatu Miettinen, Product Manager, Flotation Islands at Metso Outotec, said: “In flotation, changing ore types can cause recovery losses, and poorly integrated plant equipment leads to underperformance. Maximising overall performance and reliability requires in-depth understanding of the complex flotation circuit sizing. All these concerns have been taken into consideration in the design of the Metso Outotec modularised Flotation Plant Units to provide unmatched results. The plant units feature industry-leading technologies, which also include several Planet Positive solutions. The units consist of state-of-the-art flotation equipment, conditioners, froth handling systems, as well as automation and sophisticated services.”

The Flotation Plant Units are Metso Outotec’s fourth complete plant unit launch for concentrator plants. The previous launches include Stirred Mill Plant Units, Horizontal Mill Plant Units and Filtration Plant Units.

The Metso Outotec Flotation Plant Units benefits, as stated by the company, include:

  • Integrates flotation circuit testing, piloting and modelling capabilities from in-house test centres and modeling software into unrivalled flotation circuit design capabilities;
  • One-stop-shop from testing to full plant delivery;
  • Froth handling is designed for a high operational window, allowing for flexibility in circuit operation;
  • High emphasis on accessibility;
  • Maximised maintainability and froth visibility thanks to optimal pipe and cable routing, which keeps the top of the cells clear;
  • Safe, easy and representative process sampling; and
  • Option to vary flotation circuit configuration online.

Metso Outotec says it has one of the widest portfolios of flotation solutions on the market, with an installed base of over 15,000 flotation equipment installations around the world.

Metso Outotec launches carbon-neutral and autonomous pelletising concept

Automation, Comminution of minerals, Environmental, Mineral processing, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec is launching NextGen Pelletizing™, a visionary concept for the next generation of pelletising plants that, it says, strive to be carbon-neutral and autonomous.

This concept is a part of the company’s Planet Positive offering focused on environmentally efficient technologies.

Attaul Ahmad, Vice President, Ferrous and Heat Transfer business at Metso Outotec, said: “NextGen Pelletizing is yet further proof of our strong commitment to building innovative pelletising solutions that are sustainable and contribute to climate targets. It offers significant benefits and will help the industry decarbonise, providing an 80-90% reduction in CO2 emissions.”

NextGen Pelletizing offers unmatched benefits, according to the company, including further energy reductions of 5-10%, production and availability increases of 10-15%, and improved product homogeneity and quality to support the transition of the steel industry.

The concept considers all relevant factors for energy efficiency, plant production and pellet quality to enable a holistic optimisation of the performance of the pelletising process, the company says. It follows a modular approach to minimise the sources of CO2 from the three carbon-intensive steps involved in pelletising and introduces further improved gas schemes, advanced combustion and burner technology (low NOx, hydrogen, and alternative fuels) as well as increased plant stability and performance through advanced process control.

Matthias Gabriel, Director, Ferrous technologies at Metso Outotec, added: “Pelletising is and will remain crucial in the future for the industry’s transition to green, carbon-neutral steel production. I am really excited about NextGen Pelletizing, which I firmly believe will completely revolutionise the way pelletising plants are built or operated in the future.

“The best part about NextGen Pelletizing is that it can be implemented fully or in parts, depending on the customer needs. And it can be easily upgraded in existing plants. Our experts will continue to evolve this vision with improved and innovative processes and tools.”

As the original inventor of the pelletising process, Metso Outotec’s NextGen Pelletizing also offers an exhaustive suite of digital solutions that help improve process performance, production capacity, and product quality as well as reduce energy consumption, environmental impact, and operation and maintenance costs, Metso Outotec says. These solutions include VisioPellet™ , Ferroflame LowNox burner, the Pallet Car Condition Monitoring System, and the Training Simulator, among others.

Metso Outotec has an installed worldwide base of over 120 pelletising plants.

Metso Outotec re-introduces Planet Positive TankCell flotation cells

Comminution of minerals, Metallurgy, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Sustainable mining, , , , ,

Metso Outotec says it is re-introducing its TankCell® offering – the largest of its kind on the market – in an effort to further provide efficient and economical plant design with high availability and reduced plant footprint for any application.

Since the 1990s, Metso Outotec has delivered nearly 8,000 TankCell flotation cells to mining customers around the world, with a size range that goes from 5 cu.m to 630 cu.m.

“The energy-efficient TankCell flotation cells are part of our Planet Positive offering and are designed to provide optimal metallurgical performance sustainably,” Antti Rinne, Vice President, Flotation at Metso Outotec. “All components, as well as electrical equipment, have been selected for maximum availability and operating life.

“When combined with the Concorde Cell™, customers can unlock the potential for even further improved performance. Higher recovery, selectivity and final concentrate grade are just a few of the benefits. On top of this, we have a comprehensive automation, services and modernisation offering to support our customers’ flotation process improvement and optimisation needs.”

TankCell units are equipped with the FloatForce® mixing mechanism, which provides improved flotation hydrodynamics and pumping performance at high air dispersion rates. Thanks to this innovative mixing mechanism, particle recovery in the flotation cell is very efficient while power consumption and the risk of sanding is reduced, according to the company.

Metso Outotec says it is working on exciting new developments in the innovative FloatForcetechnology and expects to introduce the next-generation mixing mechanisms soon.

The TankCell flotation cells come with a wide selection of froth management tools, including different types of launders, optimised level control as well as various intelligent instruments, it added.

Metso Outotec also provides a range of services for the flotation units, including, for example, flotation process assessment, flotation inspections and various types of upgrades and life-cycle services packages for the optimisation of flotation cell performance.