NEWS 15 Expert Engineers Arrive in Sierra Leone For African Minerals Posted by Bhoyy Jalloh on Nov 4, 2009, 20:21

fifteen expert engineers Some Of The 15 Engineers From the WorleyParsons Europe Ltd On Arrival At Lungi Airport

Some fifteen expert engineers from the WorleyParsons Europe Ltd arrived on Sunday to undertake definitive feasibility study (DFS) and front end engineering design (FEED) for the African Minerals Ltd. iron ore project at Tonkolili, north of Sierra Leone. The mineral exploration and Development Company has significant iron ore and base metal interests in the small West African country.

Vice president of infrastructure African Minerals, Steve Allard, told journalists at the Lungi Airport hotel that they have assembled a group of senior expert engineers who would commence work immediately to establish all the cost involved and make appropriate representation to the mining company. He noted that until such studies were completed in the coming week, they could not seek funding to undertake the project.

“First we will get an orientation from the engineers of WorleyParsons Ltd and then work on the project will commence after a week. These senior engineers were drawn from all over the world and have done large projects before. We are looking forward to delivering on the project,” he explained.

On October 26 and following a full review of its relevant peers, the Mineweb in UK reported that the WorleyParsons has been selected due primarily to its proven track record of expediting large scale feasibility studies and engineering design work into construction in record time, particularly in the iron ore industry.

Together, African Minerals and WorleyParsons senior management teams have unparalleled iron ore experience in major Greenfield projects.

Worley Parsons is currently engaged in large scale infrastructure and resource industry projects worldwide and is executing multi-billion dollar programmes in Abu Dhabi, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Russia, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Mobilization of WorleyParsons has sprung into action yesterday with the DFS scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2010 and the FEED approximately four months later.

Chief executive officer of African Minerals, Alan Watling, was quoted to have said that: “I am pleased to announce the appointment of WorleyParsons to undertake the DFS and FEED for African Minerals 5.1 billion tonne iron ore project at Tonkolili in Sierra Leone. The tremendously experienced engineering skill base which WorleyParsons brings to this project, alongside our own specialized African Minerals team will provide a unique and necessary platform to ensure that African Minerals meets the targeted DFS completion date.”

He noted that the company project was in many ways similar to major projects previously successfully executed by WorleyParsons and that he was confident that the depth of experience and skill of the combined engineering team of WorleyParsons and African Minerals would successfully expedite the world class iron ore deposit towards completion.