Name and Location
High-purity alumina (HPA) production plant, Quebec, Canada.

Client
Orbite Aluminae.

Project Description
The project involves the conversion of an HPA pilot plant into a state-of-the-art full-scale one-ton-a-day HPA facility, although the facility is expected to reach 3 t/d of HPA within 12 months of its commissioning without requiring further significant capital expenditure.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
The plant is expected to begin production in the first quarter of 2015.

Latest Developments
The first phase of building at Orbite’s 3 t/d HPA facility at Cap-Chat, in Quebec, has been completed, placing the $105-million project on schedule to start commercial production in the first quarter of 2015.

The completed phase comprised work to structurally reinforce the HPA building for the subsequent installation of the Outotec calcination equipment.

Fabrication of the calcination equipment at Outotec’s Burlington, Ontario facilities is complete and installation at site is slated to start in the week of September 8, following curing of the new foundation to support the equipment. The mechanical contract for this installation has been awarded to CNC Mechanical.

Management expects installation of the decomposition and calcination reactors to take up to six weeks, in line with Orbite’s construction schedule, and will be followed by refractory installation and curing. The refractory installation contract is currently under negotiation.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Gastier (general contractor), Canam Group (design and construction of new building), Outotec (HPA calcination work) and Emerson Process Management (process control instrumentation).

On Budget and on Time?
Overall, work on the HPA facility continues on schedule for commercial production in the first quarter of 2015.

Contact Details for Project Information
Orbite Aluminae, tel +1 514 744 6264 or fax +1 514 744 193.
Gastier, tel +1 514 325 4220.
Outotec, tel +358 20 529 211 or fax +358 20 529 2200.