Industrial engineering and equipment multinational FLSmidth has been chosen as the supplier of the rotary kiln and rotary dryer for the Araguaia Niquel Metais ferronickel mine in the state of Pará in the northern region of Brazil.

The order was booked in the first quarter of 2022 and is valued at about DKK285-million.

Alongside the pyroprocessing systems, which include the rotary kiln, rotary dryer and pneumatic transport equipment, FLSmidth will supply the full electrical solution for the site and the laboratory equipment.

Complete installation advisory and commissioning services will also be provided.

“We are very happy to receive this order – the first pyroprocessing order from Araguaia Niquel Metais,” says FLSmidth Group CEO and mining president Mikko Keto.

He adds that FLSmidth was chosen because of its ability to supply complete solutions for nickel laterite ore rotary drying and ore rotary calcination/pre-reduction, all of which come with comprehensive performance guarantees.

“We also have a proven track record of supplying drying and calcination solutions to the largest ferronickel production plants in the world, and we look forward to making this project a success,” he says, stressing that, “FLSmidth has significant experience in large-scale processing of nickel laterite ore.”

Additionally, the customer will benefit from the design of the process equipment that will ensure production targets are met.

FLSmidth pyromet technology director Mike Prokesch explains the design also has several features that improve the efficiency of the processes, lowering fuel consumption and costs, which support the FLSmidth MissionZero sustainability ambition.

“The project will boost the supply of nickel to meet the growing demand from the electric vehicle and battery market,” he says.

Notably, nickel is critical to the world’s efforts to transition to a low-carbon future.

FLSmidth has already worked with Araguaia Niquel Metais to identify a pathway to further reduce carbon emissions in the future, when other technologies become feasible to implement.