Aker Solutions awarded another mining and metals contract

Aker Solutions awarded another mining and metals contract

Aker Solutions was awarded the engineering, procurement and construction management for Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation’s new Molybdenum Autoclave Process (MAP) Project facility. The facility is to be located near Kennecott’s refinery west of Salt Lake City, Utah USA. The value of Aker Solutions’ scope is over USD 33 million out of the project’s estimated capital investment of nearly USD 270 million.

Aker Solutions previously completed a feasibility study for the MAP Project. The initial phase of the project consists of a hydrometallurgical plant to further process molybdenum concentrates at rate of 30,000,000 lbs per year, producing refined ammonium dimolybdate (ADM) and molybdenum trioxide (MoO3).

The MAP project is intended to enable lower-grade concentrate to be processed more efficiently than conventional roasters, allow improved molybdenum recovery and operating flexibility and enable production of chemical grade molybdenum products. Molybdenum is a by-product of copper production and is used in metal alloys, including steel, to enhance toughness, high temperature strength and corrosion resistance. It is also a key component in oil refining catalysts used to remove sulphur from fuel and improve air quality.

Molybdenum is seen as a major element in the nonferrous metals industry and a strong contributor to sustainability initiatives.

“Aker Solutions is very proud to be involved in the MAP project where we are developing more environmental responsible and energy efficient ways of designing projects,” says Dave Lawson, President of Global Metals, Aker Solutions.

The schedule considers a mechanical completion of this work in the third quarter of 2010.

The contract was awarded to Aker Metals Inc. and Aker Industrial Constructors Inc. in Tucson, Arizona USA, subsidiaries of Aker Solutions. It was booked in the second quarter 2008.

Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation is a member of the Rio Tinto Group. Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

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