Name and Location
Vuonos talc concentrator plant project, Talkkitie, Finland.

Client
Mondos Minerals.

Project Description
The project involves the on-site refining of nickel concentrates into a mixed nickel cobalt hydroxide product (MHP) at the existing Vuonos talc concentrator plant.

Using a bioleaching process developed by South African Minerals Research Organisation Mintek, the plant will treat 12 000 t/y of nickel concentrate from Mondo Minerals’ talc operations – Sotkamo and Vuonos – to produce about 1 000 t/y of nickel in MHP. The MHP will be sold to nickel refineries or directly to the stainless steel industry.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Mondo has awarded Tenova Bateman Sub-Saharan Africa, part of the global Tenova Mining & Minerals group, the front-end engineering design (Feed) for the on-site refining of nickel concentrates into a mixed nickel cobalt hydroxide product for the Vuonos talc concentrator plant.

The award of the Feed contract follows the successful completion of the prefeasibility and definitive feasibility studies for the plant by Tenova Mining and Minerals, in Australia, in conjunction with Mintek.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Tenova Bateman Sub-Saharan Africa (Feed); Tenova Mining and Minerals and Mintek (prefeasibility and definitive feasibility studies).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Mondo Minerals press contact, Kathrin Grollmuss, tel +31 20 4487453, fax +31 20 4487443 or
email kathrin.email grollmuss@mondominerals.com.
Tenova Bateman Sub-Saharan Africa, tel +27 11 899 9111, fax +27 11 899 2302 or email enquiries.TMM@tenova.com.
Tenova Mining and Minerals, tel +61 7 3124 9080, fax +61 7 3124 9079 or email takraf.au.brisbane@takraf.com.
Mintek, tel +27 11 709 4111 or fax +27 11 793 2413.