Mining Magazine > Panorama > Terrane Metals appoints Fluor-AMEC JV

Panorama

Terrane Metals Corp has signed a letter of intent with AMEC Americas Ltd and Fluor Canada to provide engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for its 100%-owned Mt Milligan copper-gold project in British Columbia.

AMEC and Fluor will jointly provide the EPCM services to the project through their British Columbia Mining Joint Venture. Key components of the project include a 60,000t/d copper flotation process plant, tailings storage facility, plant ancillary facilities, 92km power transmission line and a 600-person construction camp. The first phase of a 30-month construction program is now underway.

Robert Pease, president and CEO of Terrane says: "Mt. Milligan's six million ounces and 22-year reserve base will make it one of Canada's largest new mines. With the selection of our EPCM contractor we have secured the services of an outstanding British Columbia-based engineering design and construction management team. This team has earned global recognition, from mine builders and mine lenders alike, for their ability to deliver large-scale projects like Mt. Milligan on schedule and on budget."

Vasee Navaratnam, Fluor's vice president of mining and metals, North America, and Greg Oryall, AMEC's vice president, mining business development and strategy explain: "We are very pleased to be working with Terrane at Mt. Milligan. The joint venture will allow us to leverage the design-delivery capabilities of the two largest British Columbia-based EPCM contractors and in doing so provide an unequalled pool of experienced people, services and local know-how to the project."

Mt. Milligan will be a conventional truck-shovel open pit mine with a 60,000t/d copper flotation process plant. The first six years of the 22-year mine plan are designed to accelerate the extraction of near-surface and higher-grade gold reserves with production forecast to average 262,100oz/y.