Metso Outotec trusted by Karara for tailings expansion

The expansion will increase the tailings filtration capacity at the Karara mine by more than 50 per cent – from 30,000 tonnes per day to more than 45,000 tonnes per day.

Metso Outotec’s vice president for minerals sales Kai Rönnberg said the contract would not only expand on the tailings facility, but also the on-going relationship between the two companies.

“The Karara mine represents one of the largest filtered tailings facilities in the world. We are very proud that Karara Mining has chosen Metso Outotec to deliver the plant design and key equipment in this expansion project,” Rönnberg said.

“This is a continuation of earlier delivered proprietary key process equipment and long-term onsite maintenance service agreements.”

Metso Outotec stated orders like these are usually worth around €15–20 million ($23–31 million), but a specific figure for this contract wasn’t disclosed.

The Karara mine produces a high-grade (65-68 per cent Fe) magnetite concentrate at eight million tonnes per year.

Metso Outotec’s contract will allow for the safe and sustainable storage of the waste produced by such a large-scale operation, while improving water use and recovery.

The equipment involved will include Metso Outotec’s Larox FFP3512 for primary filtration, plus material-handling conveyor systems and required supplementary items.

The contract will start and end in 2022, with plant production expected late in the final quarter of the year.

The responsible management of tailings and general sustainable practices have been outlined by Metso Outotec as integral to its offering, as it has continuously committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Earlier, in June, Karara supplied a letter of intent to NRW Holdings for a $700 million mining services contract at the iron ore mine.

The five-year contract would employ about 250 people for load and haul, drill and blast, and run-of-mine re-handling services.