SNC-Lavalin has put a unique spin on the conventional concept of modular mineral process plants, with the offer of an all-inclusive solution designed to help exploration operations transition into full fledged revenue earning mining companies in the space of a year. “We’ve generated an offer that we believe brings significant benefit to clients who currently lack the investment necessary to establish large scale operations,” John Scott, SNC-Lavalin business development consultant, says. “This new approach to an old concept is driven by a highly resourceful interpretation of the time needed for a client to become operational and the technology deployed to achieve this. We’re attracting an extremely encouraging response from the market and are fielding an increasing number of enquiries.

“The MMPP package we offer has been specifically developed to bridge the gap for exploration companies who have good deposits, but who find themselves facing closed doors when it comes to securing finance to fund a full scale processing plant. “Our solution is to design, fabricate and commission a smaller, but fully sufficient modular plant complete with full site establishment and associated infrastructure, such as an operational personnel camp, power and utility modules, water and sewage treatment, warehouses, site offices, workshops and even the mining fleet supply, where the operation is opencast.

“With minimum investment and within 12 months of placing the order, the client has an operational plant with a known cash flow and pay-back period, based on its conceptual test work. For example, for a gold application, we’ve capped the plant’s capacity at 1000 tpd of solid run of mine ore. The company has then effectively moved from cash consumer to revenue earner status, changing categories on the stock exchange, and in a position to attract the necessary investment for a full scale plant.” Harnessing its high value procurement and world class technical capabilities around the world, SNC-Lavalin’s modularisation specialists design, fabricate, trial erect and cold commission the plant. Thereafter it is partially dismantled and sent to the client’s site, together with all the other components needed to establish an operational mine.

SNC-Lavalin has also developed a design approach that reduces the time-consuming nature of constructing the civil works. Much of the plant is designed to rest on well-compacted ground but where additional stability is required, the MMPP team has designed a series of pre-cast planks that interlock and can be manufactured as close as possible to the site, concurrent with the fabrication of the plant. This allows sufficient time for the planks to cure and reach full strength by the time plant erection begins.

Although the MMPP concept is particularly appropriate for gold ores, it also suits almost any commodity that can be upgraded using gravity concentration techniques. For a variety of commodities the front end comminution systems are very similar, comprising a crushing circuit, feeding into a grinding or scrubbing circuit, to arrive at a size that can be treated. From this point the concentration technology differs per commodity, as do the specifics of the downstream circuit.

“There are several ways for clients to leverage MMPP to further their objectives,” Scott says. “For instance, a smaller modular plant could go into production while a Bankable Feasibility Study is being conducted to establish a full scale plant. Having the smaller plant already in operation proves the client’s deposit and strengthens their business case. There is also the advantage of the lessons learned while setting up the modular plant that better enable the client to identify the risks of erecting the full sized plant.

“Once the client builds the larger plant and no longer needs the modular version, the entire plant can be dismantled, packed up and relocated to another deposit, or even put up for sale or hired out to recoup some of the original investment.

“In the past, commissioning a modular plant was not typically considered the first step, but the dynamics of the mining market have changed to such an extent that this is now being recognised as an attractive departure point, before building a full sized plant.”

SNC-Lavalin is able to offer clients a lump sum price on its single supplier type package deal.  They have conducted highly successful introductory discussions with several South African financial institutions with regard to providing financing for MMPP projects, and are prepared to assist clients by facilitating their relationship with these banks.

SNC-Lavalin is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure, and in the provision of operations and maintenance services. SNC-Lavalin has offices across Canada and in over 40 other countries around the world, and is currently working in some 100 countries. www.snclavalin.com.