This approximately €30 million (US$32.5 million) order has been booked in Outotec's March quarter 2015 order intake.

The customer is making changes to its heap leaching operation to enhance the copper recovery from secondary sulphide minerals. These changes in the leaching phase require an upgrade in the downstream solvent extraction plant washing capacity.

Outotec's solution comprises the VSF X modular solvent extraction technology, including technology licence, engineering, proprietary and auxiliary equipment and advisory services for installation, commissioning and start-up. Deliveries from Outotec will take place in 2015.

Robin Lindahl, head of metals, energy & water business area at Outotec, said: “This order demonstrates how Outotec's revolutionary modular plant concept provides added value in projects.

“Modular technology enables quick delivery and installation, safe operation as well as high performance and availability even during maintenance, all backed up by performance guarantees. With our solution the customer can reach the targeted production in the planned fast schedule, safely and with minimal construction work at the site. The technology fulfils the strictest environmental and safety standards, minimises the energy consumption and reduces the overall project risks.”

Outotec has developed the VSF X modular solvent extraction technology in the last few years and launched the technology at the end of 2013. There is an increasing demand for this concept in various solvent extraction applications, both in brownfield optimisation projects and greenfield plants.