Innovative plant delivery for Alcan Gove, Australia

Alcan Gove, part of Alcan Inc., a global leader in aluminium and packaging, ordered two alumina calcination plants from Outokumpu Technology in October 2004 for its Gove alumina refinery expansion project in Australia's Northern Territory.

Outokumpu Technology's scope covered the process technology and some special equipment for the calciners, basic and detailed engineering, technical support and project management services as well as training and commissioning services.

Gove is a remote small township in Northern Australia with accommodation at a premium and the infrastructure incapable of supporting a major construction force that would normally be required for the refinery expansion.

In order to optimize cost and to minimize the project delivery schedule Outokumpu Technology adapted its calciner designs to fit with Alcan's implementation strategy, used for the first time in this industry. The large calcination plants, each with a capacity of 3500 tonnes per day, were fabricated as pre-assembled modules in Thailand.

The modules contain the vessels, fully installed into the steel structure along with refractory lining, piping, electrics, instrumentation, insulation and most of the mechanical equipment. Each calciner was assembled in two modules weighing over 1800 tons and dispatched as a single shipment on a special ship from Thailand to Australia. The first unit arrived in Gove in April and the second in late July 2006.

Outokumpu Technology is a worldwide technology leader in minerals and metals processing, providing innovative tailored solutions for a wide variety of customer needs in iron and steel, aluminum and non-ferrous metals industries. With a global network of sales and service centers, research facilities and 1800 experts the company generated annual sales of 556 million euro in 2005.

For additional information
Outokumpu Technology Australasia Pty Ltd
John Taylor
tel. +61 3 9674 2301