Rapallo, Rock Team win Norilsk contracts

Rapallo Engineering and underground mining contractor Rock Team have won two contracts to recommission Norilsk Nickel's Lake Johnston Nickel project, near Norseman.

Rapallo's contract is for the recommissioning and upgrades of the Lake Johnston process plant electrical and mechanical systems and the site camp and administration buildings.

Prior to the awarding of the contract Rapallo worked closely with Norilsk to develop a costing schedule and refurbishment strategy to meet Norilsk's production start-up timeline.

The Maggie Hays underground mine refurbishment contract awarded to Rock Team includes preparation for full production, main drive rehabilitation, repairs to mine service reticulation and upgrades to the ventilation system.

Norilsk shut down the Lake Johnston processing plant and Maggie Hays underground mine in February 2009, just two years after buying it in its $7.7 billion takeover of LionOre Mining.

Norilsk announced last month that production was scheduled to start in the first half of 2011.

Rock Team is a joint venture between Rapallo and Swedish underground mining contractor Begteamet.