We support a project across its whole life — metallurgical testwork and analytical services in our own laboratory, the process and engineering definition that turns results into a design, and the procurement, construction, commissioning and operator training that put the plant into production.
3
service lines
2
laboratories
FEED
to handover
ISO
certified
FROM LABORATORY TESTING TO A COMMISSIONED PLANT
Research and Development
Comprehensive metallurgical testing, analytical services and process development — from first bench-scale test programme to a proven process route.
01
Metallurgical Testing
Hydrometallurgical process evaluation through laboratory and pilot scale test programs
6 areas
Leaching Testwork
Extensive leaching investigations to evaluate metal recovery performance under different process conditions, including atmospheric agitation, pressure oxidation and heap leaching simulations.
Atmospheric agitation leaching
Pressure oxidation testing
Heap leach simulation
Acid soluble copper determination
Gross and net acid consumption determination
Acid cure testing
Equipment used
Agitated containers · bottle roll apparatus · pressure reactor · small and tall leach columns
Solid–Liquid Separation
Solid–liquid separation studies to assess slurry settling behaviour and clarification efficiency under varying operating conditions.
Settling rate determination
Sludge Volume Index (SVI) and Settleable Solids Volume (SSV) determination
Precipitation testwork carried out to evaluate contaminant removal, solution purification and neutralization efficiency.
Metals precipitation and removal
Sulfate removal
Acid neutralization
Cementation testing
Equipment used
Agitated containers
Solvent Extraction (SX)
Solvent extraction testing to support SX circuit development, optimization and operational troubleshooting.
Extraction, wash and strip performance testing
Maximum copper loading determination
Extractant concentration determination
Phase disengagement time measurement
Equipment used
Separatory funnels · dedicated SX test apparatus
Ion Exchange (IX)
Ion exchange studies conducted to evaluate resin performance and optimize metal recovery processes.
Resin loading, regeneration and rinsing tests
Breakthrough testing
Operating exchange capacity determination
Equipment used
Ion exchange columns
Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) Assessment
Environmental characterization focused on acid generation potential and the long-term environmental behaviour of mineralized materials and mine residues.
Field Leach Test (FLT)
Acid-Base Accounting (ABA)
Paste pH measurement
Net Acid Generation (NAG) testing
02
Analytical Services
Instrumental and wet chemistry techniques for liquid sample analysis
5 areas
ICP-OES Analysis
Multi-element chemical analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry, enabling simultaneous determination of multiple elements with high sensitivity and precision.
Multi-element analysis of liquid samples
Instrument used
Prodigy 7 ICP-OES (Teledyne Leeman Labs)
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)
Element-specific analysis by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for process, environmental and research applications.
Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe)
Cadmium (Cd), Silver (Ag), Lead (Pb)
Manganese (Mn)
Instruments used
Varian SpectrAA 100 · GBC SavantAA
Spectrophotometric Analysis
Spectrophotometric testing supporting water and wastewater characterization for operational monitoring and environmental compliance.
Water analysis
Wastewater analysis
Instrument used
NANOCOLOR VIS II (Macherey-Nagel)
Wet Chemistry
Classical wet chemistry methods used for routine process control and solution chemistry monitoring.
Chloride (Cl⁻) determination
Ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) and ferric iron (Fe³⁺) analysis
Free sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) determination
Copper (Cu) analysis
Water hardness determination
Gravimetric Analysis
Gravimetric testing for suspended solids determination in liquid samples.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) determination
Equipment used
Vacuum filtering apparatus with reservoir, coarse fritted disc and glass fibre filters
Project Engineering
The technical basis on which a project is built, financed and executed — from process definition, through concept, scoping, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, to FEED and detailed design.
What we deliver
01
Process Definition
Definition of process objectives, design basis, and key performance requirements.
Evaluation and selection of appropriate process technologies and treatment routes.
Development of process flowsheets and overall process concepts.
Definition of material and water balances and major process parameters.
Identification of major equipment and process units.
Preliminary assessment of utilities, infrastructure, reagents, consumables, and waste streams.
Process optimization and comparison of alternative flowsheet configurations.
Development of process design criteria for subsequent engineering stages.
02
Engineering Studies
Concept Studies – initial evaluation of project concepts, processing options, technical alternatives, project configuration, key design criteria, and indicative capital and operating requirements.
Scoping Studies – preliminary assessment of the preferred process concept, technical feasibility, major equipment and infrastructure requirements, project configuration, and indicative CAPEX/OPEX.
Pre-Feasibility Studies (PFS) – development and evaluation of the selected process route, preliminary engineering design, equipment selection, infrastructure requirements, and refined CAPEX/OPEX estimates.
Feasibility Studies (FS) – comprehensive technical definition of the project, detailed process design, equipment specifications, infrastructure requirements, project implementation strategy, and robust CAPEX/OPEX estimates.
Technical reports and supporting documentation for investment decisions, permitting, financing, and project implementation.
03
Project Design
Development of engineering deliverables from conceptual and basic engineering through detailed design.
Preparation of process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), equipment specifications, and process design documentation.
Development of equipment lists, datasheets, material specifications, and utility requirements.
Mechanical, piping, electrical, instrumentation, and control engineering.
Plant layout, equipment arrangement, and process integration.
Development of civil and structural design requirements.
Preparation of technical specifications and documentation for procurement and construction.
Integration and coordination of multidisciplinary engineering activities.
Preparation of FEED and detailed engineering packages supporting procurement, construction, commissioning, and project execution.
Project Execution
From approved design through to a commissioned plant in the client’s hands — procurement and fabrication, installation, commissioning, training and formal handover.
What we deliver
01
Equipment Procurement, Fabrication and Assembly
Preparation of equipment and material procurement specifications.
Vendor identification, technical evaluation, and supplier selection.
Purchase order management and expediting of critical equipment and materials.
Review and approval of vendor documentation, drawings, and certificates.
Inspection, quality control, and factory acceptance testing (where applicable).
Logistics management, transportation, and delivery of equipment to site.
Fabrication of process equipment, piping systems, structural components, and mechanical assemblies.
Surface preparation, coating, and corrosion protection.
Verification of fabricated items against approved engineering drawings and specifications.
Preparation of equipment for transportation and site installation.
02
Site Installation and Construction
Site mobilization and preparation of installation areas.
Mechanical installation of equipment, tanks, pumps, mixers, vessels, and process systems.
Installation of piping, valves, electrical systems, instrumentation, and control systems.
Alignment, leveling, pressure testing, and inspection of installed systems.
Integration of individual equipment items into the complete process plant.
03
Pre-Commissioning and Commissioning
Development of commissioning procedures and operating protocols.
Equipment inspection, cleaning, flushing, and functional testing.
Calibration and testing of instrumentation and control systems.
Dry commissioning and verification of mechanical and electrical operation.
Wet commissioning using process fluids and operating conditions.
Process performance testing and optimization.
Identification and rectification of commissioning issues.
04
Training and Knowledge Transfer
Preparation of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) manuals.
Training of Client personnel in plant operation, process control, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Practical on-site training during commissioning and startup.
Transfer of process knowledge, operating experience, and technical documentation to the Client’s team.
05
Handover and Project Completion
Completion of final inspections and punch-list activities.
Verification of performance criteria and acceptance requirements.
Submission of final documentation package, including as-built drawings, manuals, certificates, and test reports.
Formal handover of the completed facility to the Client.
Provision of post-commissioning technical support, as required.