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Yokogawa exports Aussie expertise to Laos

Queensland mining and minerals company Ausenco’s project with PanAust Limited Phu Kham copper and gold mine and processing plant goes into production in Laos.

Ausenco selected Yokogawa’s CENTUM CS3000 system for the plant, and engineered the system in conjunction

with engineers from Yokogawa’s Brisbane office. Craig Ogden and Jason Lewis, have returned from Laos, where they provided support for Ausenco with the installation and commissioning of the plant.

The mine site has been designed for the production of copper/gold concentrate and consists of a crusher,

Semi Autogenous Grinding (SAG) and ball mill, with 21 float cells and associated thickener, filter and tailing processes.

Jason and Craig were involved from the start of this 15 controller project, and found it very satisfying to be able to see it all the way through to completion — even though the sojourn in Laos required them to work extended hours for six weeks.

“One of the greatest benefits in this type of work,” said Craig, “is the chance to work very closely with both our customerAusenco and the site owners, Phu Bia Mining. The teamwork was very strong, and there was a real sense of achievement in every milestone.”

Jason has been Yokogawa’s lead engineer throughout the project, and enjoyed seeing the results of his

endeavours first hand. “It is particularly rewarding to see a solution to a process control issue you thought about and designed, being implemented and working successfully,” he commented.

“I made some wonderful friends during this project, both in Laos and amongst the Ausenco team. I would definitely encourage any Australian engineer to seek out opportunities to work overseas on projects like this.”

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