FEASIBILITY STUDY NEWS SNC-Lavalin Expands Role at Ambatovy Ni/Cu Project

MADAGASCAR Montreal-based SNC-LAVALIN ENGINEERS & CONSTRUCTORS is expanding its role at the Ambatovy nickel project about 130 km east of the capital city, Antananarivo. In addition to the engineering and design work SNC is doing, it will add responsibility for co-ordinating the project's feasibility study.

The Ambatovy nickel laterite project is a joint venture of DYNATEC headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ont., and Phoenix-based PHELPS DODGE CORP. It has the potential to produce 60,000 tonnes of nickel and 5,000 tonnes of cobalt for more than 20 years. Dynatec is earning a 53% interest in the property by completing a bankable feasibility study and licensing its metallurgical technology to the project. Production might begin as early as 2007.

According to Dynatec president Bob Dengler, the choice of SNC to work on this project was a natural because the engineering firm has extensive experience in pressure acid leaching processes. See www.snclavalin.com for a list of its installations.