Couer Mining subsidiary awards $30m contract to SNC-Lavalin

SNC-Lavalin has been awarded a $30 million contract by Coeur Rochester, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coeur Mining, to provide construction management services for the Plan of Operations, Amendment Number 11 expansion project at Coeur’s Rochester mine near Lovelock, Nevada.

In a statement, SNC-Lavalin said the contract, which started in Q4 2020, aims to be completed by the end of 2022. The POA 11 expansion project includes the construction of a new crushing plant, including a primary, secondary, and tertiary crushing circuit (high pressure grinding rolls).

Included in the contract is a new heap leach pad (300,000,000 tons), new Merrill Crowe process plant (13,750 gallons per minute), and upgrades to existing electrical utility system infrastructure, including a substation and power distribution lines. The deal is aligned with the company’s new strategy to target the Services segment.

“SNC-Lavalin’s Mining & Metallurgy strategic plan is gaining traction with this mandate. It is an example of the mining services work that our team is winning across our core geographies, including the United States of America. SNC-Lavalin and Coeur continue to foster a strong relationship that finds and executes services solutions to create world-class operations,” said César Inostroza, Senior Vice-President, Mining & Metallurgy, SNC-Lavalin. 

“This award is a testament to the continued partnership between SNC-Lavalin and Coeur. It leverages our knowledge of the Rochester mine and engineering expertise from the previous phase of this project and expands our work in the US.”

The project mandate is well aligned with SNC-Lavalin’s expertise in silver, gold and base metal project delivery, as well as its commitment to delivering real value to its clients, Inostroza asserts. 

SNC-Lavalin’s offices in Reno, Nevada and Toronto, Ontario will continue to support the construction management phase of the project. In addition, a team based locally at the site will manage construction-related activities, he adds.

“The strong business partnership between Coeur and SNC-Lavalin will help ensure a robust project delivery for Rochester, paving the way for improved performance in the future.” states Terrence F.D. Smith, Coeur’s Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “All of us at Coeur look forward to continue working with SNC-Lavalin as we advance this pivotal project.”

Since approval of the initial Plan of Operation in 1986, the Rochester mine has undergone periodic mine plan amendments to support development projects and continued operations. The Plan of Operations, Amendment Number 11 (“POA 11”) proposes another mine life extension, which is expected to maintain the current workforce and support full production activities at Rochester until 2033. 

Coeur’s Rochester mine is located 100 miles northeast of Reno near Lovelock, Nevada. It is an open-pit mining operation that produces silver and gold. Mining methods include typical open-pit techniques where ore and waste rock are drilled, blasted, crushed, loaded and hauled to either leach pads (ore) or rock disposal sites, the statement explains.