Outotec has been awarded a contract by OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc to design and deliver a paste backfill plant to OceanaGold’s Didipio gold mine in the Philippines. This was followed soon after by an order from MMG Ltd for the Dugald River zinc mine in Australia.

The contract price for either has not been disclosed, but similar plants typically cost approximately EUR 10 million. The orders were booked in Outotec’s 2016 third quarter order intake.

Outotec’s supply for Didipio includes the design and delivery of a new Outotec Mid Range Continuous Paste Backfill Plant (MPB), which was launched at the Paste 2016 conference in July. The new technology reduces the capital cost of a backfill plant, making it more attractive and affordable for mining companies.

Deliveries from Outotec will be completed by April 2017.

“The most sustainable way to manage mine tailings is to deposit them where they came from, i.e. back to mined underground stopes. In addition to environmental benefits, this paste backfill technology improves safety and productivity. We are very pleased at Outotec to be industry frontrunners in mine backfill technology development,” said Outotec’s Minerals Processing business unit head Kalle Härkki.

MMG has also contracted Outotec to design and deliver a paste backfill plant to the Dugald River zinc mine in Northwest Queensland, Australia. Outotec’s supply includes the design and delivery of an Outotec Mid Range Continuous Paste Backfill Plant, equipment supplies as well as construction and commissioning services. Deliveries from Outotec will be completed by February 2018.

“It is Outotec’s second order within a week for the newly developed paste backfill plant concept,” Kalle Härkki said. “Mine operators appreciate its environmental benefits, lower capital costs and quick delivery time.”