Metso Outotec has been awarded a shutdown service contract for a flash smelting furnace at a copper processing facility in South America for US$21 million (€20 million).

Metso Outotec's scope of delivery includes a complete reconstruction of the furnace. This consists of the demolition of the furnace, mechanical reconstruction of the walls and floor, uninstalling and installing the cooling elements, piping, and installing new refractory materials.

"Planned smelting furnace shutdowns are important to avoid refractory failure as well as to ensure furnace performance in the following production period. Refractory lining wear can also result in damage to equipment components, causing energy waste, reduced performance and stoppage. Starting with a comprehensive shutdown plan, our shutdown management team ensure that the shutdown is conducted on time and on budget without any safety incidents, allowing the customer to return to full production with an asset that delivers according to plan," says Risto Valakari, head of Service Sales, Metals BA, at Metso Outotec.

The company noted that approximately 50% of the order value, which exceeds €10 million, is booked in Metals' fourth-quarter orders received and the rest in Minerals' orders received.

Engebø mill win

Last week, Nordic Mining also ordered a comminution technology package from Metso Outotec for the Engebø Rutile and Garnet project.

The technology package includes delivery of primary and secondary mills, stack sizer and vibrating screens. The agreements include pre-production pilot scale confirmatory testwork and minimum 3-year collaborative optimisation agreement focusing on securing ramp-up of production to design criteria and ongoing optimisation of the comminution circuit in the first years of production. This is the first major contract for critical process equipment and will represent up to 30% of the total process equipment expenditure.

Metso Outotec will be the main technology provider for comminution circuit for Engebø Rutile and Garnet, which delivery includes the crushers as part of the lump-sum Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract with Nordic Bulk.  

"This is another important milestone for the Engebø Project. We are very pleased to partner with Metso Outotec as technology provider for this vital process equipment", says chief executive Ivar S. Fossum.

"Engebø is the first green field industrial mineral production site developed in Norway in almost 40 years. We are proud of being selected as a supplier and partner in making this project successful", says vice president, Sales and Services Nordic in Metso Outotec, Roar Vasbø.