Codelco evalates outsource desalination for RT for US$1.500 mills.
Mining Company will start a tender for the engineering, procurement of equipment and construction of the desalination plant of Radomiro Tomic Sulphide Project
U.S. $ 1,500 million. That is the maximum amount that Codelco could save (the floor is U.S. $ 1200 million) in the development of your Radomiro Tomic (RT) Sulphide project, who recently joined environmental processing and has a total cost now estimated at U.S. $ 5,400 million.
This is because in the corporation are evaluating to transfer to a third party the operation of the whole system of seawater desalination required for RT Sulphide project, which would include not just the reverse osmosis plant, but also the pipeline to carry water from the coast to the mine and the appeal system to drive up to the height, a key issue considering that RT is located at 3,200 meters above sea level.
In Codelco recognized that this is an option that is analyzed, and will be part of a study that will begin once you start a tender for the engineering, procurement of equipment and construction of the mechanism, which is soon to occur. To the process has been called a dozen companies, including some European and Asian firms as well as investment funds.
Bids will be received by all the work, between what is said any proposal for the operation and maintenance of desalination system.
What is the business that would take this option for a third? If you opt to outsource the desalination plant, the private business will be selling water to Codelco, at a price that will incorporate both the cost of the investment and the price of energy, which is the most important variable for operation of these mechanisms, since the most expensive is to promote the resource. Although not analyzed, the third party may also sell to another company, but eventually could require an extension of the pipeline, which would call for another EIA. This is because the seawater system is incorporated into the environmental impact of the comprehensive project study, which joined in late May to the evaluation system.
For state company, the point being tested is that outsourcing the plant, although investment is reduced significantly – central theme when discussing precisely cut costs given the low copper-rise operating costs, RT Sulphide once operational.
The process
In October last year, Codelco made a road show with major foreign companies to convene to participate in the engineering and construction of the desalination plant. Due to the interest, they decided to perform an international tender.
It was in this process that the idea of crossing the desalination plant arised, which until today is part of the analysis.
This tender, as explained in Codelco, will incorporate specific provisions for separating the project. That is, if the project is not approved, you will not pay for the entire project but only engineering. To the extent that they leave getting approvals, will be passed to the next phases, such as placing purchase orders and construction of the unit.
Source: Pulso
