VWS Envig is currently completing a turnkey project for the Ambatovy Project in Madagascar. The large nickel project includes the design and construction of an ammonium sulphate processing plant.
Once operational, Ambatovy will mine, prepare and pump ore via a pipeline from the open pit mine site, located approximately 80 kilometres east of the country's capital, Antananarivo, to the processing facility and refinery adjacent to the Port of Toamasina on the country's east coast. The thickened slurry will then undergo a number of processes to extract nickel and cobalt.
According to Gerhard Vosloo, Deputy Project Manager, Design and Build Projects, VWS Envig, one of the main objectives of the Ambatovy project is to limit the impact on Madagascar's unique environment.
"One of VWS Envig's core philosophies is ensuring that our plants have a minimal effect on the surrounding environment, something that can clearly be seen in our use of the most appropriate technologies and processes. For this project, our plant will be treating one of the by-products of this mining process in order to recover ammonium sulphate, a valuable, saleable, high grade fertilizer that can be used for agriculture," says Vosloo.
The plant utilises crystallisation technology, developed by VWS Envig sister company, HPD Technology. The company is a global specialist in supplying crystallisation and evaporation solutions to metals processing projects.
"HPD Technology has tremendous expertise and experience in designing these kinds of plants. We consulted them throughout the design process and, once complete, they validated the design," says Vosloo.
