Soutex’ services cover the analysis of ore concentration processes from the first drill core to the in-plant process optimization.
Soutex’ experts can intervene at any moment throughout a mine’s development, whether it be during the design phase or when help is required on the plant floor.
The concentrator design and the plant operations are intricately linked. Together, they provide a unique vision that allows us to enhance the process development during the engineering and ensure a successful operation during the plant ramp-up.
Our design experience and knowledge in fundamental ore processing principles allows us to provide innovative solutions that address production, recovery, process control and training issues.
Our implication
Exploration
Support to Exploration
- Metallurgical testwork program definition
- Samples selection
- Results monitoring and analysis
Reserve definition
Reserves
- Recovery model
- Process flowsheet definition
Engineering
Process Engineering
- Definition and supervision of metallurgical testwork
- Preliminary economic assessment (PEA)
- Prefeasibility/Feasibility
- Process development
- Piloting support
- Trade-off study
- Sensitivity analysis
- Risk analysis
- Operation costs (OPEX)
- Capital costs (CAPEX)
- NI 43 101 - Process section
Concentrator
- Detailed Engineering
- Procurement
- Management
Construction
Pre Operational Support
- Pre operational audit
- Start-up planning
- Risk mitigation plan
- Operations documents
- Training material
- Personnel training
Start-up
Support to Start-up
- Operator coaching
- Performance monitoring
- Laboratory services support
Ramp-up to commercial production
Daily Operation: accelerate the performances
- Technical assistance for operating plants (metallurgists, supervisors, managers, etc.)
- Remote metallurgist
- Environmental monitoring
- Data reconciliation
- Process controls, alarm management
Production
Process Optimization
- Process audit
- Bottleneck analysis
- Analysis by advanced statistics and simulation
- Advanced control strategy
- Improvement projects
End of mine
Environmental Rehabilitation
- Tailings management
- Site reclaiming
- Process water management
- Authorization certificates
Our services
Development of sampling procedures
Samples selection for metallurgical testing
Definition and supervision of metallurgical testing
Data reconciliation
Test data analysis for the definition of process flowsheets
NI 43-101 report (process related sections)
Development of process flowsheets
Process simulation
Trade-off studies
Selection and sizing of equipment
Production of engineering documents
Engineering for metallurgical and analysis laboratories
Estimation of capital and operation costs (CAPEX, OPEX)
Support to other disciplines (electrical, mechanical, instrumentation etc.)
Evaluation of equipment capacity (expansion)
Evaluation of equipment throughput limitations (new plant)
Client representative
Environmental advice and expertise
Development and supervision of tailings characterisation programs
Risk analysis and contingency plan
NI 43-101 report (process related sections)
Peer review/Value engineering
Production of operation documents
- Operation manuals
- Operation procedures
- Laboratory procedures
- Control plans
- Production report
Production of training documents
- Training program
- Training presentations
- Validation of acquired knowledge
- Personnel evaluation
Training of operating personnel (theory, practice, coaching)
- Plant
- Laboratories (metallurgical and analysis)
- Environment
Readiness audit
- Simulation and validation of production scenarios
- Sampling strategy
- Operation documentation
- Personnel training program
- Labor force requirements
- Instrumentation and control
- Sequence of preparatory work
Risk analysis and contingency plan
Process support (commissioning, start-up, ramp-up)
- Inspection and approval of systems
- Supervision of pre-operation verification
- Supervision of pre-production verification
- Identification and prioritization of deficiencies
- Validation of design criteria
- Follow-up on production
Metallurgical performance validation
Support to tax credit application for research and development
Support to tax credit application for training
Debottlenecking projects
Evaluation of equipment throughput limitations
Consumable reduction projects (energy, water, reactives)
Sampling campaigns (realisation, mass balance, analysis, recommendations)
Process simulation
In-plant testing and piloting
Temporary personnel replacement/addition for the metallurgical and analytical laboratory (attendant, technician, metallurgist, supervisor, superintendent)
Process audit
Process control
- Control philosophy development
- Review of P&ID and human machine interfaces (HMI)
- Master plan for regulatory and advanced control architecture development
- Regulatory and advanced control development (multivariate and expert system)
- Soft sensor development
- Programming specifications drafting
- Instrumentation
- Programming, implementation and start-up
- Control loops tuning
- Personnel training