Promon expand sulfuric acid plant for Anglogold Ashanti
- 11/08/2005



Promon has signed a contract with AngloGold Ashanti Mineração Ltda. to supply design, procurement, construction and assembly services for expansion of its sulfuric acid and ustulation (sulfide burning) plant as part of the Cuiabá Gold Mining Expansion Project.

The new plant’s production capacity will be equivalent to 400 metric tons of sulfuric acid per day. It will be implemented at Nova Lima, Minas Gerais. Work began under the EPC contract in April and is scheduled to reach completion in November 2006.

Promon brings to the project its successful experience with a sulfuric acid unit implemented for Mineração Serra Fortaleza. Although there are differences between the latter and the project for AngloGold Ashanti, this prior experience has facilitated development of the partnership for the Nova Lima project.

More than 100 professionals including both staff of Promon and contractors are working on the sulfuric acid plant project, which will involve some 400 people in the construction and assembly stage. The solution is important to AngloGold Ashanti, which will be able to convert the sulfur oxide (SOx) produced as a byproduct of gold mining into sulfuric acid for sale in the marketplace, averting its release as a gas into the atmosphere.

AngloGold Ashanti sells sulfuric acid mainly to manufacturers of paper pulp, fertilizer and chemicals.

AngloGold Ashanti’s Cuiabá Expansion Project involves expansion of an existing unit located 15 kilometers away from the present mining site and calls for production of up to 6 tons of gold per year. Concentrate with a high gold and sulfur content will be transported by aerial ropeway to the treatment plant.

AngloGold Ashanti plans to invest about US$36 million in the Cuiabá Expansion Project.




Promon expand sulfuric acid plant for Anglogold Ashanti