PT Borneo Alumina Indonesia, a subsidiary of State-owned enterprise PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium has appointed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company Black & Veatch-led project management consortium (PMC) as a technical consultant to lead its alumina refinery project.

The investment in a downstream processing facility – which will be the first of its kind in Indonesia – will add value to the Indonesian mining industry by creating mining and minerals processing infrastructure. The project will also increase Indonesia’s mineral value while strengthening downstream processing capabilities – goals which have been at the core of the Indonesian mining authority’s strategy, as demonstrated by its mineral export laws introduced in 2009.

Notably, Black & Veatch provides engineering solutions to power sector clients in Indonesia through its subsidiary PT Bina Viktori Indonesia.

The facility, located in the West Kalimantan province of Indonesia, will feature a one-million-tonne-a-year smelter-grade alumina refinery. Further developments include a 2 x 40 000 Nm3/h coal gasification plant and a 3 x 25 MW coal-fired power plant.

“Developing the downstream mineral processing industry will expand the Indonesian economy and create jobs,” stresses Black & Veatch mining senior VP Jim Spenceley.

He adds that Black & Veatch is ready to leverage its global expertise across business units to support the PMC, overseeing its client’s Chinese EPC contractor to ensure that the client realises the quality, safety and value they are seeking.

As the consortium leader, Black & Veatch will conduct the design review and equipment inspections, while also providing power and coal gasification expertise.

Consortium partners, Canada-based minerals industry engineering company Progesys, will be managing the alumina refinery process design scope, while Indonesian construction management company Jaya CM will be supporting the project through site construction engineers and inspectors.

The consortium is responsible for evaluating engineering, procurement and construction bids and reviewing design engineering. The consortium will monitor major equipment supply and conduct factory acceptance tests. It will also oversee site construction and commissioning.

Black & Veatch notes that its knowledge of international and country-specific engineering codes and standards, and contract structures should systematically mitigate project cost and schedule risks. “By serving as the interface between different engineering standards, Black & Veatch offers clients assurance that EPC contractors deliver on specific project commitments cost effectively.”

Spenceley concludes that Black & Veatch has supported clients worldwide on various infrastructure deployments by tapping into engineering innovation to address technical complexities in heavy industries such as mining.