Highland Valley Copper Mill Optimization Project

Fluor completed the pre-feasibility study for modernization of the Highland Valley Copper Mine concentrator and performed engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for this 125,000 tons per day (tpd) open-pit copper-molybdenum mine.

The project covered upgrades to, and expansion of, the existing grinding and flotation facilities including a new pebble crushing facility, replacement of the existing flotation circuits with a new, stand-alone, bulk flotation building, and implementation of a redundant electrical system. The new bulk flotation building also included upgrades to molybdenum flotation, reagents, lime slaking, and water reclaim circuits. The project was designed to increase average throughput by approximately 10 percent, from approximately 120,000 tpd to over 130,000 tpd over the life of the mine.

Client's Challenge

Highland Valley Copper, one of Canada’s largest base metal mines, is located in south-central British Columbia, Canada and produces copper and molybdenum concentrates. The project was designed to increase average throughput by approximately 10 percent, from approximately 120,000 tpd to over 130,000 tpd over the life of the mine.

The HVC mine consists of mining to expose copper ore. The mine also contains deposits of molybdenum, a significantly profitable byproduct of copper mining. The open-pit mine operation uses primary crushing, SAG milling, AG milling, pebble crushing, ball milling, bulk sulfide flotation and molybdenum separation to produce copper and molybdenum concentrates. Teck expected the optimization project to increase copper recovery by 2 percent and increase mill output by 10 percent.

Fluor's Solution

Following Fluor’s completion of the pre-feasibility study, Teck awarded development of the project sole-source to Fluor, requesting that it start directly with EPCM.

Fluor formed a 50/50 joint venture with JV Driver Industrial, Highland Valley Mill Optimization (HVMO), which implemented direct-hire construction. The joint venture ensured an integrated approach to engineering, procurement and construction that brought value to the project in an effort to minimize cost and schedule.

HVMO performed all activities associated with concrete; structural and mechanical work; piping; electrical and instrumentation work; scaffolding; specialties; and equipment supply.

Conclusion

HVMO assisted Teck in meeting its commitment to hiring qualified local contractors and First Nations suppliers who demonstrated core safety values that complemented the construction effort. The resources of Fluor’s joint venture partner allowed contractors who perform work in the field to participate in front-end engineering and planning and to have input into constructability. In addition, HVMO’s integrated workface planning and alignment of construction and engineering enabled the optimization of productivity throughout construction of the project.