Perth-based engineering consultancy companies GRD Minproc Ltd and Calibre Projects have ridden the mining wave into the New Year with both awarded contracts for major international projects.
Perth-based engineering consultancy companies GRD Minproc Ltd and Calibre Projects have ridden the mining wave into the New Year with both awarded contracts for major international projects.
GRD Minproc, GRD Ltd’s construction subsidiary, has been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction management contract by Companhia Vale do Rio Doce for its $1.6 billion Niquel do Vermelho project in Brazil.
GRD executive chairman Brettney Fogarty said the project was significant for the company as it was most likely the largest international project undertaken by an Australian contractor.
“We have a world-class team committed to delivering the project on time, on budget and operating to Companhia Vale do Rio Doce’s expectations,” he said.
The secured project order book for GRD Minproc, following announce-ment of the contract, is more than $2.5 billion with an additional $1 billion of orders as preferred contractor.
The project is located in the northern Brazilian state of Para in the Carajas region and will produce 46,000 tonnes of nickel cathode, 2,800 tonnes of cobalt cathode, and 500 tonnes of copper annually, with production commencing in late 2008.
The win follows a strong 2005 for GRD. The company was chosen as construction contractor, in joint venture with UK’s Bovis Lend Lease, for the $500 million Lancashire Waste Partnership PFI Project, and also secured the front end engineering development contract for Equinox Minerals Ltd’s $US300 million Lumwana Copper Project in Zambia.
The company was awarded the 2005 WA Engineering Excellence Award, International Projects and Exports, for the Kansanshi Copper project in Zambia.
The year has also started well for Calibre Projects, which has secured a deal to oversee a feasibility study for BHP Billiton’s $465 million Maruwai coal mine project in Indonesia.
Calibre co-founder and managing director, Jack Rowley, told WA Business News the privately owned firm had received a letter of award to act as study manager for the project, in conjunction with Clough Ltd subsidiary Petrosea and Roberts & Schaefer.
Calibre, Petrosea and Roberts & Schaefer plans to undertake the feasibility study in order to progress to the engineering, procurement and construction management for the mine.
The project scope includes mine infrastructure, airport, coal handling plant, coal preparation plant, haul road, overland conveyor, stacking, reclaiming, blending, utilities, barge loading and port facilities.
The feasibility study is expected to be completed in December this year, when the EPCM phase of the project will begin, following BHP Billiton board approval.
Mr Rowley said he recognised that there was a need to give Calibre a long-term future beyond the current iron ore boom.
“We’ve built a very solid platform to ensure the sustainability of the business and the Maruwai project supports our efforts to diversify into new industry sectors and new geographic areas,” he said.
The contract gives Calibre a foothold in coal and secures a relationship with BHP Billiton, the world’s biggest miner.
The project will be undertaken by engineers located in project offices in Brisbane, Jakarta and a site office in Balikpapan.
Calibre was recognised as the fastest growing private company in Western Australia in the WA Business News Rising Stars Index for 2005.
