Engineering and project delivery company Amec Minproc is currently carrying out several development reviews for Saudi Arabian gold and base-metals-mining company Ma’aden.

The project is part of the company’s strategy to increase its footprint in the Middle East.

Amec Minproc reports that the project outline involves assisting with a development plan for a number of gold properties that Ma’aden is looking to develop in the Central Arabian gold region (CAGR), focusing on three gold properties, namely the Mansourah, the Massarah and the Ar Rjum.

Meanwhile, Amec Minproc reports that the scope for this project includes a review of all existing project data, the development of an additional testwork programme, process flow diagrams, mechanical equipment lists, and capital and operating costs, with the view to assisting Ma’aden with developing an initial venture philosophy and project risk assessment.

“Amec’s earth and environmental group will be providing the review of the existing environmental baseline report, while the civil and structural expertise of Amec will assess geotechnical ground conditions,” says Amec Minproc proposals manager for Africa Mike Deeks.

“Over the next 12 weeks, 12 process engineers from the Amec Minproc Johannesburg office will be reviewing the testwork that has been completed so far,” says Amec Minproc study manager Keith Bright.

He adds that the work being carried out by the company is an interim review, which will culminate in the scope for Ma’aden’s prefeasibility study.

Over the past 12 years, Ma’aden has conducted an extensive exploration programme throughout targeted areas in the CAGR, which has resulted in the delineation of six advanced exploration projects, three of which will be the focus of Amec Minproc’s study.

The company currently has an additional proposal pending for another gold project with Ma’aden, he says.

To date, Ma’aden’s activities have focused on its active gold business, which has grown in recent years to include the operation of five gold mines, and the company is currently expanding its activities beyond its gold business with the development of a phosphate project and an aluminium project.