Board approval for the start of the front end engineering and design (FEED) work will be carried out in parallel with finalising the remaining regulatory approvals for the project.

GR Engineering Services and Carbine will undertake the work, which will include:

• Detailed geotechnical evaluation, engineering and survey control of the plant location in preparation for earthworks and civil construction;
• Completion of metallurgical test work using a demonstration plant. This will determine the detailed engineering design of the copper resin in pulp (RIP) and cyanide recovery circuits. This test work will also provide further validation of the process flow sheet design and the continuity between the copper, pyrite and gold leach circuits; and
• Undertaking of engineering to progress procurement tenders including those required for any long-lead items.

Tony James, managing director at Carbine, said that strong progress was being made on several fronts at the same time and that the company’s confidence in the project increases with the completion of each piece of work.

James commented: “We are very confident that we will receive the remaining government approvals for a project which will make a very positive contribution to both the environment and to the communities in Mount Morgan and central Queensland. It is also very assuring to have the full technical support of a highly regarded engineering company such as GR Engineering Services.”