TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2008 /CNW/ -- TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2008 /CNW Telbec/ - SNC-Lavalin is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract by Minera y Metalurgica del Boleo, S.A. de C.V. (MMB), a Mexican company controlled by Baja Mining Corp., for the technology package, engineering, project management and procurement services, and construction assistance, of a new, 2,400 metric tones per day sulphuric acid plant.
The acid plant will be part of MMB's mining and processing complex currently under development in Baja, Mexico, which will be Mexico's largest copper-cobalt project to date. The facilities are expected to produce an estimated 50,000 tonnes of copper and 1850 tonnes of cobalt annually. The total capital investment for the new acid plant, including the 46MW power island, is approximately US$120 million. The new plant will feature an advanced heat recovery system (HRS), entitling the company to carbon credits for its investment.
"This project is the result of SNC-Lavalin's successful history of acid plant projects in Mexico as well as an example of its growing global market share in the sector. This new acid plant will be a key component of MMB's new copper-cobalt state of the art production facilities," said Pierre Duhaime, Executive Vice-President, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. in charge of worldwide Mining and Metallurgy operations.
"This contract allows us, together with our technology partner, MECS, Inc., to meet the key client objectives of reliable acid production and maximized power production," said Vulcan Mutler, President of the SNC-Lavalin subsidiary which will work on the project.
Work on the project has already commenced. The complex is scheduled to begin operations in March 2010.
SNC-Lavalin (TSX: SNC) is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure, and in the provision of operations and maintenance services. The SNC-Lavalin companies have offices across Canada and in over 35 other countries around the world and are currently working in some 100 countries. www.snclavalin.com
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