Strategic Precious Metals Processing (SPMP) has contracted WorleyParsons Oman Engineering, with support from WorleyParsons RSA, to execute the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) for the world’s first world’s first major antimony roaster outside of China in decades, designed to modern environmental standards. The Oman Antimony Roaster (OAR) will be constructed in Sohar, located within the Free Port Zone of the Sultanate of Oman. The plant location is ideal for the trading facilities available to SPMP.
The Oman Antimony Roaster Project will be a commercial plant where the feed to the plant will originate from across the globe. The plant involves a roasting, gas treatment and smelting process. The main product streams of the processing plant include high-grate antimony ingots, powdered antimony trioxides, gypsum and gold bullions.
The project highlights WorleyParsons’ ability to leverage off its global WorleyParsons network, drawing on engineering, procurement and construction management skills from three of the company’s locations around the world. WorleyParsons RSA will execute the engineering and procurement scope from South Africa in conjunction with WorleyParsons in Australia (Adelaide and Perth). The WorleyParsons Oman Engineering team, which played a key role in pursuing this strategic customer and which provided support and advice to the customer throughout the discussions leading to the award, will be fulfilling the construction management scope with strong support from both WorleyParsons RSA and Australia.
Fairly recent discoveries for the uses of antimony now make it a highly sought-after product. Its two main applications are as a flame retardant element in plastics and as an additive to polyester resins for light aircraft engine covers. Metallic antimony is also used as an alloying material for lead and tin and for lead antimony plates in lead-acid batteries.
The methods for producing antimony in a modern and environmentally advanced manner were developed by SPMP and recent tests have confirmed the viability and efficacy of this innovative furnace technology to produce antimony metal. SPMP foresees that such innovations will differentiate their product and quality when compared to other traditional metal reduction methods once the plant reaches full production.
SPMP is an Oman registered company and will invest approximately $70 million on establishing the 20,000 metric ton per year capacity antimony and associated products plant at Sohar. The Sultanate’s sovereign wealth fund, Oman Investment Fund (OIF) and Tri-Star Resources each have a 40% equity interest in the project company while DNR Industrials LTD holds the remaining 20%.