Chuquicamata is located in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile.

This project incorporates the best-in-class sulphuric acid production technology by MECS, a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont, with whom SNC-Lavalin has successfully executed projects for over 50 years. The plants will treat off-gas from the Chuquicamata smelter, each producing up to 2,048t/d of market grade sulphuric acid. These new plants will replace those currently in operation at the facility and are part of Codelco’s ongoing environmental compliance plans.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2017, with SNC-Lavalin performing basic and detailed engineering, procurement of equipment, and construction of the acid plants via its Santiago and Toronto offices.

This follows SNC-Lavalin being awarded an EPC contract by Codelco last week for the replacement of its effluent treatment plant at the Chuquicamata copper smelter.

SNC-Lavalin will provide services for detailed engineering, supply of equipment and materials, construction, commissioning and start-up for the new effluent treatment plant. The new installations will replace the existing plant and will bring more efficiency to how effluents from the gas cleaning plant are treated.

The project will be centrally managed from SNC-Lavalin’s Santiago (Chile) office, with support from its Montreal (Canada) office for process design, commissioning and start-up services. The project is expected to be fully operational in 21 months.

José Suárez, president, mining & metallurgy at SNC-Lavalin, said: “Following our recent contract award for the replacement of the effluent treatment plant at the Chuquicamata copper smelter, this new contract once again supports our strong position in Latin America. We are very proud to be part of a local project that, once completed, will not only provide Codelco with a first class acid plant facility, but will be a key element in their environmental programme for the future. Codelco’s environmental values are closely aligned with those of SNC-Lavalin and this adds to an already excellent working relationship.”