Meadowbank Gold project
Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.
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Canada
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2007–2010
8,500 tpd capacity gold concentrator.
28-MW diesel-power generation plant with heat recovery.
US$272 million CAPEX (Hatch's scope).
−50ºC Arctic winter conditions.
Challenges
- Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.'s project involved the design of facilities for Arctic conditions: ultra-low temperatures, drifting snow in wintertime and wet ground, and permafrost conditions in summer.
- It also included managing the logistics of a remote air-and-barge-access location and a 10-week shipping season in mid-to-late summer.
- All power and heat would be supplied from an on-site, diesel-power generation plant.
- The facility needed to operate in a remote, greenfield location with no existing support infrastructure of any kind.
Solutions
- Provided detailed engineering, procurement, and construction support services for the 8,500 tpd gold processing facilities and site infrastructure, including power-generation plant.
- Used waste material from pre-stripping as bulk construction material for erecting dikes and for fill materials around the site.
- Erected eight major buildings during summer so concrete and equipment installation could continue indoors during the harsh Arctic winter conditions.
- Designed the power plant to include a heat-recovery system, providing heat to the entire mine site complex.
Highlights
- Mobilized more than 50,000 tonnes of material and equipment to the site over a purpose-built, 115-km, all-weather road from Baker Lake.
- Procured equipment and construction materials in time to be all shipped on barges during a short 10-week ice-free period in summertime.
- Our procurement and logistics strategy helped meet the construction schedule and improved working conditions for contractors through the winter.
- Designed diesel-fired power plant, heat-recovery, and heat-distribution systems that were rigorous enough for Arctic conditions and resulted in cost savings and schedule improvements.
Project numbers
US$272 million capital cost (Hatch's scope)8,500 tpd gold concentrator
28 MW diesel-power generating plant
115 km purpose-built, all-weather road
40,000,000 L diesel-storage facility at Baker Lake
5,600,000 L diesel-storage & dispensing facility at the site
10 bay truck shop and office complex
350-person camp accommodations
50,000 tonnes of material and equipment shipped in 10 weeks