GRD Minproc, a subsidiary of GRD Ltd, and GR Engineering Services Pty Ltd have secured study and development contracts with Exco Resources Ltd and Univeral Resources Ltd respectively.
GRD Minproc, a subsidiary of GRD Ltd, and GR Engineering Services Pty Ltd have secured study and development contracts with Exco Resources Ltd and Univeral Resources Ltd, respectively.
GRD Minproc will undertake the definitive feasibility study, based on a proposed 2.5-3 million tonne per annum copper concentrator, for Exco's Cloncurry project in Queensland.
GRD recently completed the pre-feasibility study for Exco.
Meanwhile, Universal has selected GR as its preferred contractor to build the Roseby treatment facility and selected infrastructure.
A conditional letter of intent has been signed by both companies with negotiations for a formal contract to take place shortly.
West Perth-based Universal said the appointment of GR will be subject to the company raising the necessary finance to complete mine development.
Below are the full announcements:
UNIVERSAL RESOURCES LTD
Universal Resources Limited ("URL" or the "Company") is pleased to advise that it has selected GR Engineering Services Pty Ltd (GRES) as the preferred contractor to build the Roseby Treatment Facility and selected infrastructure. A Conditional Letter of Intent has been signed by both parties and the companies will now negotiate a formal contract on the basis of a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) EPC Contract based on the proposal provided to the company on 13 June 2008, as amended by various letters.
The appointment of GRES will be subject to the company raising the necessary finance to complete the mine development.
GRES is a well established engineering design/construction organisation specialising in the design and construction of mineral processing plants and associated infrastructure. It has recently completed the 1Mtpa Higginsville Gold Project for Avoca Resources and is scheduled to complete the 300,000tpa Sinclair Nickel Project for Jubilee Mines (Xstrata Nickel) in Q3 2008 and the 250,000tpa Forrestania Nickel Project for Western Areas in Q1 2009.
GRES' Managing Director, Mr Joe Ricciardo has over 30 years industry experience, including as a founding director (in 1986) of JR Engineering and, following the sale of the business to Roche/Downer Group in 2001, as General Manager and Director of Roche (JR). He formed GRES in 2006.
GRES have dedicated a comprehensive team of highly experienced and qualified managers, engineers and support staff to the project. This team is currently working with the company to optimise the process plant design including some minor changes to the process flow sheet and equipment selection. It is anticipated that the final GMP Contract will not be significantly different to the DFS capital cost estimates.
The company looks forward to working with the GRES team to bring the Roseby Project to fruition.
GRD LTD
Engineering construction company GRD Minproc, a subsidiary of GRD Limited (ASX: GRD), will undertake the Definitive Feasibility Study for Exco Resources Limited's Cloncurry Copper Project.
The study is based on a proposed 2.5 - 3 Mt/a copper concentrator for the project, which is located in north-west Queensland. GRD Minproc recently completed the Pre-Feasibility Study for Exco Resources.
GRD Minproc will use its internationally acknowledged expertise in process design and engineering to complete a range of activities including recommendations on process optimisation and capital cost and operating cost estimates.
GRD Group Chief Executive Cliff Lawrenson said GRD Minproc was in a strong position to help Exco Resources add value to the development of the project.
"Our team has a depth of knowledge of the project having just completed the pre-feasibility study and will utilise expertise from both our Perth and Brisbane offices to deliver the next phase in its development," Mr Lawrenson said.