Worley secures new Americas critical minerals work

Worley has picked up important critical minerals engineering work in the Americas, advising on a niobium-rare earths project in Brazil and getting the nod to design a lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) plant in the US.

Diversified industrial group Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials engaged Worley to engineer and design a 10,000 tonnes per annum LiPF6 facility in St Gabriel, Louisiana. LiPF6 is a vital ingredient in lithium‑ion batteries. Orbia said domestic production would support national energy security.

Worley said it would provide engineering and full supply chain services, including modularisation and construction support, through its Louisiana office.

“This award reflects our capability to support increased customer demand for work in energy transition materials,” said the Australian-based company’s CEO, Chris Ashton.

“We are pleased to continue the work we have done in previous phases of this strategically important project for Orbia.”

Worley was also recently appointed by St George Mining to provide technical advisory services at its significant Araxa niobium and rare earths project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Under the contract St George will be able to access Worley’s global project development capabilities – metallurgical and process engineering, feasibility and cost study work, process plant design, mine planning, tailings management, procurement and plant construction – to support development studies for a niobium and rare earths mining operation.

“As one of the world’s largest providers of engineering and project management solutions to the resources sector, Worley brings extensive and relevant expertise to support St George as we advance the potential development of our world-class Araxa project,” St George executive chairman John Prineas said.

“Worley will work with our highly credentialled in-country team of engineers, who have decades of combined experience in plant construction, mining and mineral production in the Araxa region, to deliver an optimal engineering strategy for the Araxa project.”

Worley has worked in Brazil for more than 60 years.

“This partnership reflects Worley’s long-standing track record in Brazil and our capability to support complex resources projects from early studies through to operation,” said the company’s senior vice president for global operations – LATAM&C, Tom Foster.