WorleyParsons, a leading global engineering services group, said its Omani subsidiary has been awarded a major services contract linked to the construction of a key antimony roaster project at Sohar Port and Freezone in the sultanate.

The deal was awarded to WorleyParsons Oman by Strategic & Precious Metals Processing (SPMP), a joint venture between Oman Investment Fund and UK-based Tri-Star Resources which own 40 per cent each and Dubai's Castell Investments which has a 20 per cent stake in the company.

As per the contract, WorleyParsons will provide engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) for the 20,000-tonnes-per-annum capacity antimony and associated products plant being set up by the Omani group at an investment of $70 million.

Chief executive Ismail Emin Eyi dubbed the contract as a significant milestone for SPMP and its partners.

"We all look forward to working with the WorleyParsons team in delivering this important facility for the world antimony market and also adding to the development of the minerals processing industry in Oman," he stated.

According to him, the EPCM work is likely to be completed in 18 months. "Commissioning of the world's first major antimony roaster outside of China in decades, designed to modern environmental standards, is due for September 2017," added Eyi.
 
Guy Eastaugh, the chief executive of Tri-Star, said: "With WorleyParsons firmly on board as part of the construction team, we look forward now to the build-out and development phase of this exciting project, which continues to be on track for commissioning by the end of 2017."

Tri-Star Resources is an independent mining and mineral processing company with antimony exploration licences in Turkey and in Canada (New Brunswick) and a mining permit in Turkey.-TradeArabia News Service