This encompassed the design, manufacture and shipping of a Python process plant with the capacity to treat 1,000t/d of mill feed, and a concentrate treatment plant capable of treating up to 300,000oz/y of gold.

Gekko was required to meet strict deadlines for the equipment to arrive at Roberts Bay Port by August 2016, as sea access is only possible each summer for up to ten weeks. Consequently, the plant had to be designed, built and shipped on schedule to meet the tight delivery window.

The success of this first stage of the project was made possible through Gekko’s modular and containerised approach to plant design (see image). This allowed for construction, assembly and factory commissioning in Ballarat prior to the shipment using 200 containers.

As outside temperatures regularly drop to -50oC, the plant and equipment needed to be designed to withstand the harsh environmental conditions and Canadian Standards to ensure the high-performance expectations are achieved.

The plant will be installed inside a purpose-built structure approximately 150m long by 50m wide with commissioning of the plant expected in mid-December 2016. The low-height plant design allowed the building height to be lowered by up to 10m, which further reduced construction, heating and operating costs and improved maintenance access.

Gekko said the plant will reach its maximum capacity of 2,000t/d in late 2017, when the second Python is estimated to be commissioned and fully operative.