Voisey's Bay Mine Expansion
Helping Vale pursue one of its most challenging Canadian projects
Vale Newfoundland & Labrador Ltd.
|
Canada
|
2016-2022
Two new underground nickel/copper mines
40 ktpa of nickel-in-concentrate at peak production
20 ktpa of copper-in-concentrate at peak production
Extends the life of Voisey's Bay until 2032
Challenges
- Vale is pursuing one of its most challenging Canadian projects to date - converting Voisey’s Bay from an open-pit-only operation to two new underground mines.
- The project will extend the life of the mine by an additional fifteen years.
- The mine expansion project will focus on the development of two separate deposits, Reid Brook and Eastern Deeps.
- Building the underground mines requires the development of declines from surface to access the ore bodies, and the construction and installation of supporting infrastructure, including maintenance facilities, material handling, and underground mine ventilation systems.
- Vale is planning to use data to maximize the effective implementation of the project, as well as the efficiency of the day-to-day operation through commissioning and ramp-up.
Solutions
- We are providing detailed engineering and project management services for the mine expansion in a JV partnership with Sikumiut Environmental Ltd. (SEM), an Inuit-owned, St. John’s-based environmental company.
- The scope includes building the two new underground mines and related infrastructure.
- One of the key strategies for the project is the integration of information technology systems used in data-centric computing and operational technology to monitor events, processes, and activities.
- We are delivering a fit-for-purpose Operation Management System for the development phase of the underground project.
Highlights
- The expansion will extend the life of the operation until at least 2032.
- Reid Brook and Eastern Deeps will together produce 40,000 tonnes of nickel concentrate at a peak mining rate of 2.6 million tonnes per annum.
- Largest underground mine under construction in Canada.
- Employing the latest technology to maximize efficiency.
- Since the beginning of the mine expansion project, Innu and Nunatsiavut Inuit employment has more than doubled to approximately 500 employees. A further sixty-five percent of all procurement contracts for the project were awarded to Indigenous-owned businesses.
- Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the mine expansion project reached first ore production with zero lost-time injuries in 7 million hours worked since engineering and construction began in 2016.
Project numbers
42 ktpa of nickel-in-concentrate will be produced20 ktpa of copper-in-concentrate will also be produced
Services & technologies provided
Job Opportunities
About 650 construction jobs and 400 full-time operations positions will be created at Voisey’s Bay. We’re developing detailed engineering from our St. John’s office and construction is underway on-site.
Underground development is expected to begin in the second half of 2018 and peak construction will take place between 2019 and 2021.
Apply now!
For job opportunities at Hatch, please click here.
For job opportunities at Vale, please click here.