The LUCY Project

Won the 2018 Hatch Global Award for design excellence.

Won the 2023 Hatch Global Award for project excellence

First-of-its-kind project for a nickel laterite operation.

Significantly increased tailings storage capacity with minimal additional environmental impact. 

At full production, PRNC’s high-pressure acid leach process at the Goro mine produces 6.3 metric tons per year of residue (tailings), which must be contained in purpose-built storage facilities on site.
The mine operation needed to expand its existing KO2 residue storage facility before it reached its estimated design capacity in 2024.
The site’s remote location in New Caledonia made it difficult to import construction equipment and provided limited on-island availability of materials, fabrication shops, and labor for skilled trades.
The project also had to navigate the site’s proximity to a coral lagoon and other environmental conditions, including approximately 3.3 meters of annual rainfall.

Conducted comprehensive studies to understand the physical and chemical properties of the tailings. Operated a pilot plant for 18 months to test the feasibility of both filter press equipment design and dry stacking tailings storage solution under various site conditions.
Provided engineering, procurement, and construction management services, ensuring detailed design, skids, on-site pre-assembly prior to erection, and procurement was completed ahead of on-site construction to meet cost and timeline targets.
Utilized modular design to enhance project safety and efficiency, including pre-assembly and off-site testing of electrical switch rooms and tanks to minimize risks and streamline construction.
Used 3D model and data-centric design software to integrate New Caledonian topography and imagery into 3D models. This helped secure necessary permits and inform the local community about the project’s benefits.
Developed a unique truck loadout design to optimize the transportation of dewatered filter cake to the dry stack storage facility, which worked to overcome the logistical challenges posed by the island’s environmental conditions.

Significantly reduced the risk of tailings dam breaches and minimized environmental impacts by transition to a dry stack tailings management solution.
Overcame New Caledonia’s extreme weather conditions and limited resources through meticulous planning and innovative engineering solutions, ensuring the stability of the dry stack storage facility in a consistently humid and rainy environment.
Set a new standard for tailings management, which serves as a blueprint and benchmark for future projects in the industry.

8 modular electrical switch rooms, each 16 m x 10 m x 5 m, 100 tonnes
14 tanks, each 13 m in diameter and height, 100 tonnes
55,000 work hours in FEL3
150,000 work hours in FEL4 – Detailed engineering and procurement assistance
>350,000 work hours inFEL4 – Project execution including construction management, pre-op, and commissioning
11 offices mobilized across eight countries