SNC-Lavalin’s Centre of Excellence for Copper is in Santiago Chile. This office has provided complete lifecycle implementation services for a variety of copper projects. Project teams have carried out basic and detailed engineering for many copper processing plants and have gained unique experience in designing for remote and harsh conditions ranging from high altitude projects in the Andes to projects in central Africa and tropical Australia.
Process Technologies
We offer extensive process plant experience covering the full range of recovery techniques and unit processes from ore beneficiation to finished cathode copper production by both pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical techniques.
Expertise
- Ore handling, beneficiation and mineral dressing from crushing, milling and flotation for both sulphide and oxide concentrate production
- Sulphide concentrate smelting for the full range of technologies including both bath smelting and flash smelting, as well as expertise in both matte production and modern direct blister smelting techniques
- Matte converting and slag cleaning and treatment by both electric furnace and flotation techniques
- Blister copper fire refining and anode casting plants
- Primary process gas collection and treatment including complete sulphuric acid plants as well as handling and treatment of secondary and fugitive gas emissions to meet stringent environmental criteria
- Whole ore and concentrate leaching and associated solvent extraction (SX) and electro winning (EW) plants for high grade cathode production
- Copper electro refining (ER) plants and associated ancillary plants such as slime treatment and electrolyte purification
- Co- and by-product recovery plants such as facilities for cobalt, nickel and molybdenum, as well as dust and effluent treatment facilities
Alto Norte Copper

Country : Chile
Chuquicamata Copper Project

Country : Chile
Milpillas Copper Project

Country : Mexico
Olympic Dam Project

Country : Australia
Alto Norte Copper

Chuquicamata Copper Project

Milpillas Copper Project

Olympic Dam Project










