Global strategic consulting, engineering and project delivery company, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), is experiencing some significant expansion in South America, having recently won some major projects, and completed a merger.

The company was recently awarded the basic engineering for the tunnels, primary crushing plant and materials handling for Codelco’s Andina Phase II copper mine expansion in Chile.

SKM won the project on the strength of the experience and lessons learned from Codelco’s other major mine project in Chile, the New Mine Level at El Teniente, which is the world’s largest underground copper mine, and for which  SKM has been delivering prefeasibility and feasibility studies since 2006.

SKM’s South American Manager, Mining, Claudio Lesch, said that the work the company had performed at El Teniente had contributed to the successful award of the Andina project.

“In the competitive bidding process, we faced other Tier 1 engineering and project delivery companies, however, our experiences and the lessons learned on the work we have undertaken so far on the New Mine Level at El Teniente, along with our capabilities and experience in underground mining projects, and our use of the SmartPlant 3D platform, were crucial in the decision by Codelco to award us the work at Andina,” Lesch said.

SKM was also recently appointed by the Peruvian mining company, Antamina, to provide support to the owners’ team for the management of the process capacity expansion of its copper and zinc mine in northern Peru.  The services will be completely provided from Peru with the support of SKM’s recently established office in Lima.

Experience in the mining and processing of lithium has led to SKM working on a lithium-potash project in Argentina. Orocobre awarded SKM the detailed engineering contract for the Salar de Olaroz lithium-potash project, following the completion of the engineering and cost estimates for the definitive feasibility study.  SKM has significant industry experience, and is the only company that has ever designed and managed the construction of a complete lithium brine operation.
In Brazil, SKM continues to work with Vale on expansions to their iron ore projects, and, on the strength of this work, has appointed Mathias Cotta as Director – SKM Brazil. 

SKM recently strengthened its water capabilities in the region, with the acquisition of leading water engineering consultancy IRH, creating a combined capability to offer new and enhanced water and environmental services to organisations across South America.

Now with 650 staff and projects across Chile, Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil, SKM is fast becoming a significant force in the region.

For more information contact:  Maria Whaley, Capability Marketing Manager, Mining and Metals.  mwhaley@globalskm.com 

Photo: El Teniente Mine