The North Mara Gold Project included the complete engineering design, procurement, freight, construction, commissioning and performance testing of the gold processing facility, a 12MW power station and water supply from the nearby Mara River for the 2 Mt/y gold project.
The project was delivered on a Lump Sum Turnkey basis. Equipment was sourced globally and shipped into the Port of Mobassa in Kenya, and transported approximately 1,600 km to site.
Ausenco’s scope included:
- Engineering design and construction of all processing facilities,
- Surface infrastructure,
- Power supply,
- Water supply,
- Buildings and tailings storage facilities,
- Full procurement
- Expediting and inspection services,
- Complete construction management including the utilisation of a largely local workforce,
- Complete commissioning services,
- Performance testing (including passing process guarantees), and
- Training of plant operations people.
Ausenco was re-engaged in 2004 to increase the capacity of the original North Mara Gold project from 2 Mt/y to 2.8 Mt/y of ore.
Major components of the upgrade were screening and secondary crushing circuit, additional 3.2Mw, two additional 1100m³ absorption tanks, additional eluate tank and electrowinning cell, additional 17m tailings thickener and additional 6Mw diesel powered generators.
Ausenco’s’ scope included the engineering design across all disciplines, the global procurement, expediting and inspection services and on-site commissioning assistance.
Keys Highlights
- Approximately 90% local Tanzanian workforce
- Project completed under budget
- Practical completion achieved in 49 weeks – seven weeks ahead of schedule
- Equipment was sourced from over 13 countries
- Design customised to suit local African material.