The Endako expansion project will increase the molybdenum ore processing capacity of the existing Endako mine from 28,000 tonnes per day (tpd) to 52,000 tpd. Thompson Creek Mining will build a new process plant to house milling and flotation equipment, together with ore stockpiling and supporting infrastructure upgrades to produce molybdenum concentrate.
Restart of the project was approved by Thompson Creek Mining and its 25% partner, Sojitz Canada Corporation, in September 2009. The previous owner shut down the project in 2008 because of the global financial crisis.
A 52,000-tpd molybdenum concentrator will be constructed.
Hatch’s scope includes engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for the new concentrator plant including upgrade of the power supply to the mine, SAG and ball mill grinding, pebble crushing, flotation, regrind, thickening, pumping tailings to tailings dams, tailings dam return water recovery barge, all brownfield interfaces, ore feed from existing mine feed, fresh water, process water, concentrate delivery to existing roaster, power supply, access road, and pre-commissioning and assistance at performance testing.
The project will increase the throughput tonnage and improve the overall recovery of the Endako mine’s processing facility and significantly reduce the average operating cost per tonne of product.
As of the end of October 2010 the project had completed more than 598,000 hours without any lost-time incidents.
