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Mining tech giant Weir Group has been awarded a £53 million contract to provide energy-efficient flowsheet solutions for the Reko Diq copper-gold project in Pakistan, a 50%-owned greenfield development by Barrick Gold.
Located in the Chagai district of Balochistan, Reko Diq represents one of the largest copper-gold development projects in the world. First production is targeted for 2028 with an estimated mine life of at least 40 years. Construction of the truck-and-shovel open pit operation will take two phases.
During the first phase of the project, Weir will provide fine grinding, separation and tailings solutions. Among the equipment to be provided are Weir’s large-format high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs), which has the highest capacity design in the market.
The initial £53 million contract award will be recognized in the order book in accordance with a phased call-off aligned with manufacturing lead times, with £26 million recognized immediately and the remaining orders to be booked in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025.
After commissioning of the equipment, Weird said it will also provide aftermarket support via an on-site purpose-built service centre staffed with its own technical personnel.
The contract, says chief executive Jon Stanton, represents “further industry acceptance of Weir’s differentiated sustainable and cost-effective redefined flowsheet solution.”
He adds that the group’s market-leading HPGR technology is particularly suited for the water-scarce climate and geology of the Reko Diq copper-gold project. “Our engineers have designed an innovative solution that comprehensively addresses the particular challenges of this project.”
“Barrick is pleased to be partnering with Weir in delivering sustainable mining and processing in the new mining frontier of Balochistan,” commented Barrick’s CEO Mark Bristow.
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