DC-smelting study on nickel
ore from Shevchenko, Kazakhstan
BATEMAN was contracted by Mintek to provide the engineering input
to a prefeasibility study for Oriel Resources plc on a ferronickel-process
plant for the Shevchenko project in Kazakhstan. The study was completed
successfully.
BATEMAN handled the engineering design and costing of the process
plant and became involved in the project because of its previous experience
on similar DC-arc smelting studies.
The processing tests, conducted by Mintek's Pyrometallurgical Division,
were positive. Mintek dried, calcined and smelted 6 t of the Shevchenko
nickel ore in its 200 kVA DC-arc furnace at a temperature of about
1 600 ¡C at an average feed rate of 65 kg/h. Optimal conditions
were achieved when adding 4,5 % coal and 9 % magnesite flux to the
furnace feed and yielded a crude ferronickel product with in excess
of 20% nickel with recoveries conservatively estimated at 89 %.
As a result, Oriel Resources, which is listed on the London Stock
Exchange, is considering a definitive feasibility study on the project.
Further details may be obtained from Ted Fulton, General Manager,
DC Furnaces, on +27-11-899-2376 or email dcfurnaces@batemanengineering.com.
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Copyright BATEMAN 2004
