Jacinth-Ambrosia Mineral Sands Mine
South Australia, Australia
Client: Iluka Resources Limited
Parsons Brinckerhoff Role: Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management
The Jacinth-Ambrosia Mineral Sands Mine—potentially the world’s largest zircon deposit—was completed six weeks ahead of schedule and approximately 10 percent under budget in December 2009. Parsons Brinckerhoff worked as part of an integrated project team with the owner, Iluka Resources Limited, to deliver the AU$420 million EPCM (engineering, procurement, construction management) project under demanding conditions in a remote part of South Australia with almost no existing infrastructure.
The Iluka/Parsons Brinckerhoff team was responsible for the entire mine development and all associated infrastructure including roads, the accommodation village, water supply, reverse osmosis water treatment, power station, airstrip and communications. The project team established the initial estimate and managed financial controls and forecasting, the development and maintenance of the master project schedule, document control, quality assurance, construction management, and contract administration.
The project, which was begun in August 2007, progressed from approvals to delivery of the first shipment of heavy mineral concentrate in just over 18 months. Despite the speed with which the project was completed, it compiled an outstanding safety record and adhered to strict environmental regulations during construction in a regional conservation reserve. More than 900,000 labor hours were performed in a harsh, remote desert environment without a single lost-time injury. Parsons Brinckerhoff undertook extensive consultation with Australian government agencies to comply with environmental controls, including measures to minimize the clearing of vegetation and stripping of topsoil.
The Jacinth-Ambrosia Mineral Sands Mine won the Project of the Year Award and a Gold Award of Merit for Project Management in Consult Australia’s 2010 Awards for Excellence. The project also received the 2010 South Australian Engineers Excellence Award for Project Management.