Codelco awards basic engineering of Gaby project to Aker Kvaerner and SNC-Lavalin
The joint contract is valued at approximately USD 2.3 million and is scheduled for completion in early December 2004. Codelco's total capital cost for the project is approximately USD 530 million.
The Gaby project will include an open pit mine and processing facilities to produce 150,000 tonnes of pure copper per year in the form of cathodes. The basic engineering scope includes processing facilities for primary, secondary and tertiary crushing of ore, ore stockpiling, excavation and deposition of ripios (previously processed material that contains residual copper), acidification, leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning as well as all associated infrastructure. The Gaby project is located 120 kilometres south of the city of Calama in Chile's northern Region II.
Aker Kvaerner is a world leader in design and construction of plants using the environmentally friendly SX/EW technology, which recovers copper using a hydrometallurgical process with minimal environmental emissions. In addition to the newly-awarded project, the company has designed and built five of the last eight facilities in South America, and is currently executing a contract for BHP Billiton's USD 840 million Spence Project. The Aker Kvaerner entity that is signatory to the new contract is Kvaerner Metals, Agencia en Chile de Kvaerner E&C Worldwide Corporation.
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. (TSX:SNC) together with the other members of the SNC-Lavalin group of companies including SNC-Lavalin Chile (SNC-Lavalin) comprise one of the leading groups of engineering and construction companies in the world, a global leader in the ownership and management of infrastructure and a key player in facilities and operations management. SNC-Lavalin companies have offices across Canada and in 30 other countries around the world, and are currently working in some 100 countries. The SNC-Lavalin group of companies has substantial experience in copper, SX/EW, and projects in Chile.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Lola Kolbach, Manager of Marketing & PR, Aker Kvaerner Chile: + 56 2 336 3520
AKER KVÆRNER ASA
, through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Kvaerner"), is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. The business within Aker Kvaerner span a number of industries, including Oil & Gas production, Refining & Chemicals, Mining & Metals, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology, Power Generation and Pulp & Paper. Aker Kvaerner has aggregated annual revenues of approximately USD 4.5 billion and employs around 21,000 employees in more than 30 countries. The Aker Kvaerner group consists of a number of separate legal entities. Aker Kvaerner is used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities. The parent company in the group is Aker Kværner ASA.