Fluor wins US$ 1.3 billion mine development contract

Fluor has been awarded the US$ 1.3 billion engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract to develop the Caserones copper mine project in Chile for Minera Lumina Copper Chile SA.

The project will see Fluor undertake all the EPCM activities for the mine, its infrastructure, associated utilities and offsite facilities.

The contract will be handled from the company's Santiago, Chile office and at its peak will employ 5000 local workers. Work is already underway, with completion due in the third quarter of 2013.

Dwayne Wilson, president of Fluor's industrial business said, "South America and Chile in particular continues to be a robust market for our company in the mining sector and we are pleased that our reputation, both globally and locally, has helped us win significant work in the region.

The Caserones Mine is located some 100 km north of Santiago and is about 13000 feet (4000 m) above sea level.

When running at full capacity, it is expected to process about 105000 tons (95000 tonnes) of ore a day.

The site has copper reserves of some 3.6 million tons (3.3 million tonnes) of copper and 87000 tons (79000 tonnes) of molybdenum.