Betamet

What’s unique about the mine in Talvivaara is that the mining company's ore cleaning technique is bioheapleaching. At present the procedure is common in the dissolution of other metals from ore, especially copper and gold. The nickel reserves in the open mine in Talvivaara will keep the production going as planned for at least 24 years. In addition, as by-product the mine will produce zinc, copper and cobalt.

 

Already in the beginning of the 1970’s the geological studies conducted in Sotkamo showed that the resources there were substantial but their ore content was relatively low. However, the conventional ore cleaning technologies at the time did not make the reserves economically exploitable. During the 1980’s and 1990’s bioleaching was still relatively new, and was considered too risky to be used in such a massive scale.

 

Talvivaara Mining Company Plc. has ordered the work form Betamet. Betamet began the installation at the end of April in a field, where the first bioheapleaching after ore crushing is carried out in heaps that are eight meters high.

 

– The installation includes the traction and folding stations of the conveyor carrying the ore from the sulphuric acid treatment to the first leaching heap, the conveyor bridge on top of rollers, two tripper cars and the tripper, explains Project Manager Esa Kärki from Betamet Oy.

 

The schedule of the project is tight, since the installation must be completed by the end of June. The installation employs as many as 60-70 people.

 

In the beginning of May Betamet started the mechanical installation in the plants treating hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen and oxygen. The installation will last till the end of July and employs up to 14 people.

 

– There is not a lot of equipment that needs to be installed but they are brought to the site in whole. Lifting the extremely large and heavy equipment with the facilities available, in tight conditions and among all the other workers is demanding, says Project Engineer Panu Pesonen from Betamet Oy and continues:

 

– The organising of all the Betamet installation processes that are going on in Talvivaara is also worth noting. Even though the installation contracts are separate, they are all to a degree subordinate to the same site organization. Thus, the processes, decision-making and resource planning are all efficient, flexible and reasonable.

 

A week after the gas plant installation procedures started the installation of the piping for the plants treating hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen and oxygen and the propane piping begun, as well. The work will continue till the end of August and will employ up to 30 people, consisting of 14,000 man-hours.

 

– The work has a tight schedule and the materials used range from black steel to heat resistant, acid proof and stainless steel. The work includes some very demanding piping installations, e.g. oxygen piping systems. The remote location of the site also poses some challenges of its own, states Project Engineer Tuomo Vengasaho from Betamet Piping Oy.