PROCESSING

Baobab picks up Wood for expansion project

Phosphate miner Avenira has chosen Wood as its lead engineering consultant for the bankable feasibility study (BFS) for the expansion and upgrade project at its Baobab project in Senegal

Staff reporter
 The Baobab phosphate project

The Baobab phosphate project

Wood (formerly Amec Foster Wheeler) will take the lead in completing the study for the company's 80%-owned project, which it has targeted to produce 1 million tonnes per year at nameplate capacity with expansion and upgrade of the existing Gadde Bissik mine beneficiation plant. A conceptual study was first undertaken last year by Hatch.

"The objective of the study is to provide a definitive design basis for detailed engineering and construction management," Avenira officials said, adding that it will include mining, processing and tailings storage, and an operating and capital cost estimate within an accuracy range of +/-10%.

Wood's study will be conducted in two stages, the first being a feasibility study due by early July to deliver the cost estimate. Phase 2 encompasses the final bankable feasibility study, including an AACE Class 3 cost estimate, and is projected for completion by the end of the year.

The West Africa complex, which it first acquired in April 2015, is considered by Avenira to be its flagship project. It also owns 100% of the Wonarah phosphate project in the Northern Territory, Australia, and has an interest in privately held US company JDC Phosphate.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2023 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of current exploration rates, trending exploration technologies, a ranking of top drill intercepts and a catalog of 2022 Initial Resource Estimates and recent discovery successes.