The pumps will be commissioned for tailings disposal duty at a new paste plant, which is expected to become operational in the first half of 2017.

Weir Minerals will support the project through the provision of GEHO PD pumps, main pump related equipment such as feed pumps, valves, and spares, and will assist Outotec in commissioning of the pumping section of the tailings transport system. The GEHO pumps deliver optimal thickened tailings results in conjunction with Outotec's paste thickener technology. Weir said that this would result in power savings, an efficient re-use of process water and a lifetime extension of the existing tailings storage area.

The Siilinjärvi mine produces about 1Mt of apatite (rock phosphate) concentrate, which creates approximately 10Mt/y of tailings. The tailings, a mixture of sand and water, are currently disposed in the tailings storage facility as conventional tailings slurry. The new high-density tailings disposal system with dewatering will increase the percentage of solids in the slurry, thus enabling it to be deposited as paste and extending the lifetime of the tailings storage facility. Reclaimed water is returned to the process for reuse.

The GEHO piston diaphragm pumps are designed to deliver high levels of performance with superior efficiency and reliability. GEHO pumps can provide a solution for various slurry and tailings applications from ore pipelines to autoclave feed, dewatering to backfill, and coal gasification to tailings disposal.