Mining:GRD Minproc: Niquel do Vermelho Project (Vale - Brazil)

Following completion of the Niquel do Vermelho feasibility studies by GRD Minproc, Vale awarded GRD Minproc the EPCM contract for it's A$1.6 billion (US$1.2 billion) nickel laterite project in Brasil.
Located in the northern Brasilian state of Para in the Carajas region, the Niquel do Vermelho project will produce 46,000 tonnes of nickel cathode, 2,800 tonnes of cobalt cathode and 500 tonnes of copper per annum.
GRD Minproc has appointed Minerconsult Engenharia and PROJETEC Projetos E Tecnologia Ltda, as local contractors to provide in country support for the Niquel do Vermelho project.
Production is scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2008.
The engineering, procurement and construction management for the project implementation will be based in Belo Horizonte, close to Vale's project and research facilities. The project team is expected to peak at approximately 450 people, mostly located in Belo Horizonte, with the remainder being on site to supervise the construction. The construction workforce on site is expected to peak at around 5,000 people.
GRD Minproc has been associated with the project since November 2002 when it was appointed by Vale to conduct studies to determine preferred flowsheets for the project. Following the successful completion of this work, Vale selected the mixed hydroxide precipitation route and in 2003, Vale engaged GRD Minproc to conduct the engineering and estimating components of a pre-feasibility study and then a final feasibility study to investigate the viability of the project. The completion of the feasibility study in March 2005 led to the approval of the project by the Board of Vale and the award of the EPCM contract to GRD Minproc.
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