The Goro nickel-cobalt mine is a fully integrated mining operation involving an open-pit mine, a processing plant and a port facility operated by Prony Resources in the Southern Province of New Caledonia. The hydrometallurgical processing plant uses HPAL technology to produce nickel oxide, nickel hydroxide, cobalt carbonate and nickel hydroxide cake.

Due to pre-treatment with lime, the effluent in the HDPE ocean outfall pipe is saturated in calcium, which precipitates as gypsum inside the pipe’s surface. This creates limitations on the maximum flow rate in the pipe and its full capacity is required to pump the effluent.

A solution is needed to improve the performance of the effluent pipe by:

• Creating a method to remove the gypsum scaling and/or
• Increasing the flow rate of the effluent pipe (from baseline of 2400m3/h to 3050m3/h)

The solution must also fulfil the following requirements:

• No degradation of safety
• No impact to the effluent quality
• Must comply with the “Installations classées protection de l'environnement” (ICPE) requirements for discharge into the sea

1. Submission Period
   Suppliers are invited to submit their short-form solution to the challenge by 10 February 2023 for evaluation by Austmine and Prony Resources.
2. Evaluation Period
   Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to a technical briefing, where each supplier will be able to gain more information about the challenge from Prony Resources. This will allow you to refine your proposed solution prior to the next stage.
3. Pitch Session
   This is the opportunity to ‘sell’ your solution and gain feedback from operational teams, presenting directly to the Prony Resources team.
4. Full Proposal Submission
   Following the Pitch Session, shortlisted suppliers are invited to submit their formal technical and economic proposals.
5. Winner Announced
   Prony Resources will select the best fit solution/s for the challenge. Unsuccessful submitters are notified in writing by Austmine.

Challenge Launch Webinar
24th January 2023

EOI Submission Deadline
10th February 2023

Technical Briefing
24th February 2023

Pitch Sessions
3rd March 2023

Final Proposal Deadline
31st March 2023

The Global Mining Challenge is coordinated by Austmine and supported by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. The program provides new supply and export opportunities for opportunities for Australian METS companies and guides participants through a process of delivering solutions, technologies, and services to major international mining customers.