The BIOMOre project, which is funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, aims to extract metals from deep mineralised zones in Europe by coupling solution mining with bioleaching.

The test rig measures 8m-long, 3m-high and 2m-wide, with a total weight of approximately 3t. Transportation from Enschede in the Netherlands to Rudna mine in Lubin, Poland (about 800km) took two days.

The equipment must undergo above-ground safety and environmental compliance certifications that will take around two months. After the certification is finalised, the equipment will be installed underground at the designated location and prepared for the underground tests.

Hatch designed the equipment based on models, simulations and lab test results and supervised the building of the equipment in the Netherlands.

A press conference for introduction of the equipment and the test setup is planned for early 2017.