Vale Moves into Commissioning Stage for Nickel Hydromet Plant in Newfoundland

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Brazilian miner Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) has completed major mechanical construction on one of the largest industrial projects to take place in Atlantic Canada: a $4.25 billion, commercial-scale nickel hydromet processing plant in Long Harbour, Newfoundland. The company is moving into the next phase of construction, which includes commissioning and startup of operations. The commissioning phase will take place over the next six months.

Industrial Info first reported on the project in 1997. Construction started in 2009. Fluor Canada (Vancouver, British Columbia), a subsidiary of Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR), performed engineering, procurement and construction management for the project. The project employed about 6,000 skilled laborers during peak construction.

The plant will process nickel concentrate from Vale's Voisey Bay nickel mine, which began operations in 2005.

The Atlantic Canada region has landed several mega-projects in recent years. Work also began this year on ExxonMobil's (NYSE:XOM) $14 billion Hebron offshore oil development project.

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