Mining Magazine > Panorama > Outotec to provide tailings treatment solution for LKAB

Outotec has made an agreement with Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara (LKAB) on a package to deliver technology for thickening the tailings in the Svappavaara iron ore mine in Sweden.

Outotec's scope of delivery includes engineering of a tailings treatment process, Outotec Paste Thickener, with related buildings, piping, electrification, instrumentation and control systems as well as installation and services for start-up and training. The new process is expected to become operational in October 2012.

Outotec's paste thickening technology is applicable on both ferrous and non-ferrous metals concentrator applications. Paste thickening efficiently separates water from tailings and reduces water consumption of the mine by approximately 10%, along with space requirements for tailings dams. Produced sluggish paste can also be used directly as a back fill in the mine so that tailings return to their origin.

Pertti Korhonen, CEO of Outotec, said: "We just recently delivered and commissioned a similar solution to the Laiva gold mine in Finland so this new order strengthens our view that the demand for tailings treatment solutions continues to grow. Outotec's goal is to develop sustainable solutions for tailings treatment, and this order demonstrates that our paste thickening fulfils our customers' expectations."