MINING EPC / EPCM execution plan is defined and fixed ,” Collins said . This , in turn , informs the procurement strategy as well as the capital cost estimate and project schedule .
And this is even more important in today ’ s market environment .
“ During heated market cycles , procurement lead times lengthen and there is often a value case to be made for early works commitment to project planning , equipment selections and engineering during the feasibility phase ,” Collins said . “ Clearly this necessitates a risk / reward analysis and decision process by the project owner .”
Janne Tikka , Head of Mining & Metals at AFRY Process Industries , said the company ’ s clear phased approach to investment project development , plus its experience leveraging new technology in other industries within the Nordic region , mitigates the apparent risks of bringing innovation to mining projects .
This , he said , involves “ careful decision steps , design and pilot testing the flowsheet already in the prefeasibility study ”.
Similarly , Steve Rusk , Mining Vice President at Stantec , says emphasising safety and constructability considerations in the project design phase , along with early engagement of construction companies , provides tangible positive outcomes for the mine ’ s development .
“ Engineering for risk mitigation ” is a common
Stantec analysed this entire mine hoisting system , from the underground surge bin to the surface skip dump bin , in Saskatchewan , Canada . The new steel headframe was the tallest in the world at the time of its construction , measuring 95.7 m
practice he has seen when working on projects , for example , carrying out some work traditionally associated with front end engineering and design stages earlier in the process to ensure the designs are sound before agreeing on budgets and timelines .
“ The key is to apply the right level of engineering to have confidence in the outcome while managing the time available ,” he told IM .
“ The earlier we get involved , the more impact we can have without needing to spend extra budget on design changes later in the process . The right knowledge at the right time minimises the risk around assumptions .”
Wood has built out a mining consulting group comprised of technical experts to specifically
work with mining clients at the earliest stages of project development , according to Michael Woloschuk , Vice President , Global Business Development & Consulting , noting : “ In mining projects , there is a lot of value to be gained or lost at conceptual levels .”
He illustrated this with an example of the work Wood has carried out with IAMGOLD at the Côté Gold project , in Ontario , Canada , an asset that will leverage high levels of automation and is due to produce 493,000 oz / y ( 100 % basis ) of gold over the first five years of operations when it starts up – expected in the second half of 2023 .
“ Beginning with work on the initial scoping study in 2011 , we have worked closely with IAMGOLD all the way into execution , helping to
Our EPCM solutions can help get your development projects off — and into — the ground .
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