Multidisciplinary process engineering company Metallurgical Engineering Technology & Construction (METC) understands that delivering working projects ahead of schedule, enables higher net present value and better internal rate of return.

METC’s team members have designed andbuilt more than 75 metallurgical plants across Africa and other jurisdictions, METC’s recent projects include delivering a 100 t/h modular plant in Sierra Leon for Sierra Diamonds’ Newfield Tongo Project, a 3.9 Mt/a Cu and Co plant producing LME A grade copper cathode and cobalt hydroxide for Chemaf’s  DRC Mutoshi project and various design and execution projects involving chromite and platinum-group metals (PGMs) for integrated resource group Tharisa Minerals in South Africa.

The company describes its team, which tackles brownfield and greenfield projects, as responsive, fast-moving, flexible and skilled in completing stock exchange-compliant studies and detailed, cost-effective metallurgical plant designs.

To increase speed of construction, reduce capital cost and improve the efficiency of the plants METC designs, it uses modular plant sections for ease of fabrication and installation; reduces drop heights to decrease plant footprints, costs and energy consumption; and 4D modelling to integrate the schedule with the 3D model to confirm the integrity of the construction schedule.

METC also employs integrated design databases, an extensive cost database for early stage studies, reinforced earthen walls, segmented tanks, right sized equipment and skid-mounted designs.

Through its experience, the company has gained process knowledge in fields such as materials flow and handling, crushing, comminution, flotation, gravity recovery, heap leaching, solvent extraction and dewatering.

METC has undertaken process design, engineering, management and construction of processing plants for the gold, copper, chrome, platinum-group metals, manganese, diamonds, zinc, phosphate and uranium sectors, among other commodities.