Outokumpu Technology Pty Ltd has begun work on a contract won against worldwide competition for 10 high-rate thickeners for the Rio Tuba laterite nickel and cobalt mineral processing plant in the Philippines.

The order, worth more than $A4 million, encompasses all thickeners involved in Coral Bay Nickel Corporations project, a joint venture headed by Sumitomo Metal Mining Co, Ltd. and scheduled to commence full operation in the second half of 2004.

It will produce 10,000 tons of nickel and 750 tons of cobalt a year, worth more than $A100 million ($US54million) annually or more than $A2 billion (SUS 1 billion) over the 20-year life of the plant.

Outokumpu Technologys Global Product Manager Thickeners, Mr Richard Triglavcanin, said the order from the Japanese engineering company JGC Corporation followed demonstration of leadership by Outokumpu in understanding the difficult requirements of laterite nickel processing circuits.

We have been successfully involved in many laterite nickel projects worldwide, but the Rio Tuba order has additional significance because it is the first time Outokumpu has won the order for all thickeners in the laterite nickel circuit. It is also the first time we have worked with a Japanese company, reflecting the expanding international recognition of our technology, he said.

Outokumpu retrofitting a new rake lift system and feedwell with its forced dilution system, Turbo Dil, to an existing laterite counter-current decantation thickener.

Included in the contract are a 20-metre thickener for ore preparation, seven 27-metre models for counter-current decantation (CCD), a 21-metre thickener for neutralisation and a 14-metre model for mixed sulphides. The contract includes supply of bridges and mechanisms including full surface treatment, as well as tank fabrication drawings.

Design and drafting work in Outokumpus Perth and Sydney offices in Australia will be followed by fabrication work in the Philippines, scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2003.