Escondida opts for TankCells

Panorama

Publishing Date: 14 Dec 2009 4:24pm GMT
Author: Mining Magazine

Processing

Outotec has signed an agreement to deliver TankCell flotation columns for the improvement of production at the Los Colorados and Laguna Seca concentrator plants at BHP Billiton’s Minera Escondida copper mine in Chile.

The decision follows a 2005 study carried out by JKTech on the comparison of Outotec’s TankCell technology with the current flotation circuit at the mine. The results were reported by Mining Magazine in November 2008 (see page 36, Nov 2008 issue.)

The order for Los Colorados will include ten TankCell 300 flotation columns- the largest flotation cells in the world, each with 300m³ capacity. A total of 18 TankCell 160 columns will also be installed at the Laguna Seca plant.

All new cells, as well as 80 existing ones at Los Colorados, will be equipped with the Outotec FloatForce flotation mechanism to improve the metallurgical performance.

Start up of the new flotation cells is scheduled for mid-2010.