Maboumine Demonstration Plant

Setting up the future, full-scale commercial plant for success

Maboumine, subsidiary of COMILOG (ERAMET group) | Gabon | 2012—2015

Remote

location

Large

commercial plant project

New process

for niobium, REE, and uranium recovery

Challenges

  • ERAMET is developing a new process to recover niobium, rare earth elements, and uranium from a deposit in Gabon owned by Maboumine.
  • A prefeasibility study and a feasibility study were needed for a 1:200-scale demonstration pilot plant that will prove the chemistry and optimize the flow sheet before the commercial plant is constructed.

Solutions

  • Process modifications that dramatically improved the operating efficiency of the process were identified.
  • The demonstration plant was designed to test the performance of the novel flow sheet on a small scale. Design criteria will be optimized and extracted prior to launching the large commercial plant project.
  • Our experts helped plan and oversee test work to design the demonstration plant, facilitate technology selection, and determine appropriate materials for the plant's construction.

Highlights

  • The technical improvements that were suggested bolstered the project's economics, particularly around the leach circuits.
  • The use of a modularized design for most of the demonstration plant was a key feature, motivated by the remoteness of the site and the size of the facility. Ultimately, it increased confidence in the schedule and the quality of the work during execution.
  • Comprehensive infrastructure that supported the site was designed, including water supply, power generation, and a site camp.

“Thanks again for your contribution to our project ... I hope we will be able to work together again in the future.”

Adriaan Ris|Maboumine Project Manager , COMILOG (ERAMET group)

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