By Gerald Ondrey |
SNC-Lavalin (Montreal, Canada; www.snclavalin.com) has been awarded a contract to provide engineering, procurement and overall project management services for the Rochester POA11 Project in Nevada, by Coeur Rochester, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coeur Mining, Inc. This phase of the project is estimated to be complete by October 2020. The project is anticipated to include a 20 million ton/yr crushing plant, which includes a primary and secondary crushing circuit as well as a high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) circuit, a 13,750 gal/min Merrill-Crowe process plant, a new substation with power distribution and new heap leach pad. This mining and metallurgy contract win is aligned with the company’s new strategy moving forward towards engineering services and greater growth.
SNC-Lavalin will provide overall project management services and integrate the engineering performed by various service providers under one set of specifications, procurement policies, standards, systems and procedures. Services will be provided out of our company’s offices in Toronto, Canada, with local support from our office in Reno, Nevada. This mandate will include additional support such as public consultations, community engagement and working with the local community to address any impacts on the public, housing and accommodations during the project period.
“As a first project with Coeur Mining, we look forward to building a long-term relationship and supporting our client to develop their silver and gold mine in Nevada,” said César Inostroza, Senior Vice-President, Mining & Metallurgy, SNC-Lavalin. “This mandate is well aligned with our services-based strategy for mining and metallurgy projects. This is one of multiple mining projects we have recently been awarded in the US market, and we see great potential in expanding our capabilities in the region. We look forward to contributing to our client’s project success through our extensive technical and project experience.”
Since approval of the initial Plan of Operation in 1986, the Rochester Mine has undergone periodic mine plan amendments to support mine development projects and continued operations. The mine plan amendment (termed Plan of Operations Amendment Number 11, or simply ‘POA 11’) proposes another mine life extension, which would maintain the current workforce and operate the mine at full production until 2033.
The Rochester POA11 Project is located 100 miles North-East of Reno near Lovelock, Nevada. The Rochester mine is an open-pit mining operation that produces silver and gold. Mining methods include typical open-pit techniques where ore and waste rock are drilled, blasted, crushed, loaded and hauled to either leach pads (ore) or rock disposal sites (RDSs).
