Bateman Engineering N.V. ("Bateman
Engineering or the “Company")
7 May 2008
Contract Award from Southern Urals Nickel for DC Furnace Technology
Bateman Engineering is pleased to announce the award of a US$31 million contract to its subsidiary, Bateman International Projects B.V, from Southern Urals Nickel Plant OAO (“Southern Urals Nickel”), a subsidiary of Mechel OAO, for the design and supply of a 12 MW DC furnace. The furnace will be erected at Southern Urals Nickel’s existing facility in the city of Orsk, Orenburg Region, Russian Federation.
The contract will be undertaken on a fixed price and against a defined scope of work for small-scale industrial furnace complex equipment for the production of ferronickel and will include the provision of a basic engineering package for the entire process plant and detailed design and supply of the core technology equipment for the 12 MW DC furnace. Work is expected to commence shortly and the project is due to be completed by the end of 2009.
Southern Urals Nickel has embarked on a recapitalisation and expansion programme for its nickel operations in order to boost production and create operational efficiencies. The 12 MW furnace is the first phase in this programme whereby, in addition to producing a saleable product, it will be used to assess the commercial viability of a significantly larger project.
The 12 MW plant will be designed in accordance with the latest proven technology in the field of ferro smelting and environmental protection. The technology has been designed employing a holistic process approach to achieve low operating costs and high recoveries with high levels of reliability.
Commenting on the award, Eddie Du Rand, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Bateman Engineering, said:
"Bateman Engineering has for several years promoted and marketed DC arc furnace technology developed at the South African Council for Mineral Technology (Mintek) for smelting of ferronickel and other related ferroalloys. This contract award vindicates our confidence in the technology and confirms the potential for its application in the Russian Federation and adjacent countries such as Kazakhstan and Ukraine."
Note for editors:
Bateman Engineering is a technology-driven engineering-project house serving the minerals and metals industries worldwide. Bateman Engineering’s shares (BATE.L) are traded on AIM, a market of the London Stock Exchange.
ENQUIRIES:
| Bateman Engineering |
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Dr. Sivi Gounden, CEO |
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+31 20 502 2370 |
Eddie Du Rand, Deputy CEO
Pieter Du Plessis, CFO |
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+31 20 502 2370
+41 55 451 9010 |
Dresdner Kleinwort |
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Chris Treneman |
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+44 20 7623 8000 |
Alex Metherell |
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+44 20 7623 8000 |
Andrew Hollins |
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+44 20 7623 8000 |
College Hill |
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Nicholas Potter (Analysts) |
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+44 20 7457 2037 |
Adam Aljewicz |
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+44 20 7457 2029 |
Further information on the Delkor Group is available at http://www.delkorglobal.com
