Weir Group has secured a £53m ($68.94m) contract to supply energy-efficient solutions to the Reko Diq copper-gold project in the Chagai district of Balochistan, Pakistan.
The Reko Diq project, 50% owned by Barrick Gold, is expected to have more than 40 years of mine life.
Among the world’s largest copper-gold development projects, it will begin production in 2028.
Weir will deliver fine grinding, separation and tailings management equipment in the project's initial phase.
These include the company’s ENDURON high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR), vibrating screens, WARMAN slurry pumps and CAVEX hydrocyclones.
The contract's initial £53m value will be recognised progressively, with £26m accounted for immediately.
Weir’s on-site service centre, staffed with technical experts, will offer aftermarket support.
Weir CEO Jon Stanton stated: “We are delighted to have secured this significant contract which represents further industry acceptance of Weir’s differentiated sustainable and cost-effective redefined flowsheet solution, with our market-leading HPGR technology particularly suited for the water-scarce climate and geology of the Reko Diq copper-gold project.”
Barrick president and CEO Mark Bristow stated: “Barrick is pleased to be partnering with Weir in delivering sustainable mining and processing in the new mining frontier of Balochistan. The Reko Diq project will grow Barrick’s strategically significant copper and gold portfolios, benefiting all its Pakistan and Balochistan stakeholders.”
In July 2024, Barrick Gold selected space exploration company Fleet Space Technologies’ ExoSphere system to ramp up copper exploration work at Reko Diq.
Leveraging advanced space technology, AI and 3D multi-physics, ExoSphere will create detailed 3D subsurface maps across more than 1,150km².