Tenova Mining & Minerals has announced that Tenova TAKRAF and Tenova Bateman Technologies will design and deliver a copper ore handling/processing system and a Solvent Extraction (SX) – Electrowinning (EW) plant to produce 80,000 tons per annum of fine copper cathodes for Minera Antucoya, part of Antofagasta plc. The new plant, with a lifespan of approximately 20 years, will be located at Antofagasta region, approximately 45km east of the Group’s Michilla mine, Chile.

These contracts will include engineering, supply of proprietary equipment, construction, training, commissioning and start-up supervision. Tenova TAKRAF will provide an agglomeration plant, an on-off leach pad measuring 3,000m by 800m and a waste handling system. Tenova Bateman Technologies will supply the SX plant based on Bateman Settler technology. This is a proprietary reverse-flow mixer-settler (RFMS) technology, which was developed and patented by Bateman and is used in various plants in Chile, including Codelco’s Gaby plant and Vale’s Tres Valles plant.

Jointly, the two Minera Antucoya contracts are the largest project ever awarded to Tenova Mining & Minerals, the division of Tenova focused on serving the global mining and minerals and metals industries. The combination of biddings for the Minera Antucoya project reflects Tenova’s strategy looking forward, offering a full range of technologies and engineering services to provide clients with a unique one stop total solution source across the full mining value chain, harnessing the capacities and capabilities of multiple business units strategically located around the globe.