CHILE: Construction contract award for planned $700,000,000 bio-assisted copper leaching process,...

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The local MINERA ESCONDIDA LTDA is currently gearing-up to go ahead with its long-stalled bio-assisted copper-leaching project. In so doing, the company recently awarded the construction contract to US-based FLUOR CORP. According to the terms of the award, FLUOR will be responsible for the provision of engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services.

The project will make use of a proprietary bacterial leaching process on run-of-mine, low-grade, sulphide ore coming from ESCONDIDA's existing pit and its Norte pit that