Ausenco has been awarded the Definitive Feasibility Study on the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project for Kalgoorlie Nickel Pty Ltd (KNPL). KNPL is owned by Ardea Resources Limited (Ardea), with a Cooperation Agreement in place with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd and Mitsubishi Corporation.
The Kalgoorlie Nickel Project is located 70 kilometres northwest of the world-renowned mining centre, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia. The project will be an industry critical operation, meeting the demand for nickel-cobalt supply with high Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) standards.
Ausenco has been engaged to deliver the definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the process plant package, which consists of a nickel processing plant and associated utilities.
Through these studies, Ausenco intends to deliver an outcome that optimises the project’s capital and operating costs and maximises value, while ensuring the project concept is financeable and executable in the current market environment.
Managing Director and CEO of Ardea Resources, Andrew Penkethman said, “The Goongarrie Hub DFS is the first Critical Minerals collaboration between Australia and Japan, with the project expected to be a multi-decade nickel-cobalt operation. We are looking forward to working with Ausenco to deliver a high-quality study that demonstrates the significant production potential and high ESG standards of the Goongarrie Hub.”
The study will be led by Ausenco’s experienced team based in Perth, Australia, with support from the company’s global network of subject matter experts. This team has expertise across all aspects of nickel laterite process design and operation, through feasibility study, detailed design, execution, commissioning and operation.
The project’s aim is to provide essential supply of ESG-compliant nickel and cobalt, along with other critical minerals such as scandium, lithium and Rare Earth Elements (REE).
Ausenco President APAC/Africa, Minerals & Metals, Reuben Joseph commented, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Ardea and Kalgoorlie Nickel Pty Ltd on this significant project in Western Australia. We have a wealth of experience in complex hydrometallurgical processes, and we look forward to putting our engineering capability to work as part of this strategic project.”
About Ausenco
Ausenco is a global company redefining what's possible. The team is based across 26 offices in 15 countries delivering services worldwide. Combining deep technical expertise with a 30-year track record, Ausenco delivers innovative, value-add consulting studies, project delivery, asset operations and maintenance solutions to the minerals and metals and industrial sectors (www.ausenco.com).
About Kalgoorlie Nickel Pty Ltd
Kalgoorlie Nickel Pty Ltd (KNPL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of ASX-listed nickel resources company, Ardea Resources Limited (ASX:ARL). Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd and Mitsubishi Corporation are progressively earning a 50% interest in KNPL.
KNPL is focussed on:
- Development of the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP) - Goongarrie Hub, a globally significant series of nickel-cobalt and Critical Mineral deposits which host one of the largest nickel-cobalt resources in the developed World, 584Mt at 0.69% Ni and 0.043% Co for 4Mt of contained nickel and 250kt of contained cobalt (Ardea ASX release 30 June 2023), located in a jurisdiction with exemplary Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) credentials.
Media contact
Megan Clavelle, Vice President, Communications & Brand
megan.clavelle@ausenco.com