The Didipio Gold–Copper Project, located 270 km north of Manila, Philippines, included the development of an open cut mine and the design and construction of a 2.5 Mt/y gold-copper concentrate processing facility.
The project site is located in very hilly terrain and a complex engineering design was required. Criteria such as cyclonic wind speeds, seismic considerations and major rainfall events, together with local ground geotechnical conditions were considered as part of the design, along with the demands of surface water control, drainage, diversions and sediment control measures.
Ausenco’s scope of work for the 2.5 Mt/y flotation plant included engineering and procurement of the process plant from crushing, through comminution, flotation and filtration circuits as well as gravity gold recovery.
Scope also included the design and procurement of a 20MW diesel power plant, process plant infrastructure, site roads, site preparation, earthworks and tailings water recovery.
Ausenco worked on the project previously between 2007-2008 providing EPCM services. The project was placed on hold during the global financial crisis, however after securing new funding, the project restarted. Ausenco’s design team was mobilised with a number of key personnel from the initial design phase being utilised, providing continuity through to the final design.
Construction and commissioning phases of the project were executed by the client, with design interface assistance from Ausenco.