ASIAMET Resources has appointed international engineering, construction and project management company Ausenco Limited as primary process engineering consultant for a feasibility study into the Beruang Kanan Main (BKM) Copper Project in Central Kalimantan. The study continues to ramp up and Asiamet says the Ausenco appointment complements the world-class team working on the project.
Ausenco brings extensive experience in mineral project development globally, with particular expertise in Indonesia, and in heap-leach and SX-EW copper recovery. The appointment provides Asiamet with a critical set of capabilities to successfully deliver the BKM feasibility study.
Asiamet conducted a thorough vendor selection process to identify the preferred consultant for the study process engineering. Proposals were submitted from seven international engineering consultancies and following a detailed review and assessment, Ausenco was chosen as the preferred service provider.
The scope of work to be covered by Ausenco includes design, engineering and cost estimating activities for the process area facilities required at BKM. Process area facilities include: the ROM stockpile; crushing and conveyor transportation circuit; agglomeration and stacking circuit; heap-leach pads, solution ponds, neutralisation plant and solution transportation systems; solvent extraction plant; electro-winning plant; and the related utilities (water and power), and waste stream requirements.
Ausenco will also oversee the required geotechnical field investigations and laboratory testing programs to support design of the heap-leach facility.
The SX-EW plant design, equipment pricing, site works pricing, capital and operating cost estimating activities will be undertaken in Brisbane, Australia. The heap-leach pad design, including coordination of the required geotechnical investigations will be completed at Ausenco’s office in Lima, Peru.
This office has extensive experience relevant to the BKM copper project, such as gold and copper heap-leach operations including valley-fill and heap-leach facilities operating in higher-rainfall environments.
Asiamet’s CEO Peter Bird said, “We have brought together a world-class group of experienced professionals who will be responsible for the delivery of the feasibility study. Adding the Ausenco personnel significantly enhances the capabilities of our wider team and we look forward to working with them to advance the BKM project through the process engineering phase of the feasibility study.
“The high-calibre talent that has been attracted to working with Asiamet on the project speaks volumes to the quality of the asset.”