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Highlights

  • GR Engineering awarded USD 77.6 million EPC contract by AIC Copper for Eloise expansion.
  • The company is set to design, procure, and commission new processing infrastructure in Queensland.
  • GNG to commence project work upon satisfaction of customary contract conditions.

GR Engineering Services Limited (ASX: GNG) is an Australian-based engineering and contracting company providing high-quality engineering design and construction services to the mining and minerals processing industries. The company specializes in fixed-price engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) contracts for mineral processing facilities.

The company announced it has entered an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract with AIC Copper Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of AIC Mines Limited ,for the expansion of the Eloise copper processing facility in northern Queensland.

The contract is valued at approximately USD 77.6 million, including provisional sums. The scope of work under the EPC agreement involves comprehensive upgrades to the existing Eloise facility. This includes the design, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning of several key plant components. The expansion project will feature a new crushing and screening plant, a revised grinding and classification circuit, and a new rougher flotation circuit.

The contract is conditional upon the fulfilment of standard conditions precedent. Upon satisfaction of these conditions, project activities are expected to commence promptly. GR Engineering did not specify a timeline for construction but emphasized its readiness to proceed once these requirements are met.

The Eloise copper processing facility, located approximately 60 kilometres southeast of Cloncurry in Queensland, currently supports AIC Mines’ underground copper mining operations. The expansion aims to enhance processing capacity and improve efficiency through new and upgraded infrastructure.

Commenting on the contract award, GR Engineering Managing Director Tony Patrizi said the company was selected by AIC Mines to undertake the project due to its prior experience with similar developments in Australia, particularly in the base and precious metals sector. He noted the company’s operational familiarity with projects in northern Queensland as a relevant factor.

The Eloise Expansion Project will enable AIC Mines to process higher volumes of copper ore, aligning with the company’s strategic plans to increase output from its Eloise underground mine. The enhancements to the crushing, grinding, and flotation circuits are designed to support increased throughput and maintain processing reliability.

GR Engineering's scope also involves project integration to ensure compatibility with existing plant operations. The new flotation circuit is particularly significant for improving the separation and concentration of copper minerals, a critical component in achieving production targets.

This latest contract expands GR Engineering’s work pipeline and continues its engagement with the Australian copper sector. The company has previously executed EPC projects across multiple jurisdictions, supporting both greenfield and brownfield developments.

The award of the Eloise Copper Expansion Project adds to GR Engineering’s portfolio of mid-sized processing facility developments. It also reinforces continued activity in Queensland’s mineral sector, which has seen renewed investment in copper and other critical minerals due to increasing demand driven by global electrification trends.

GR Engineering stated that additional details, including project timelines and construction milestones, will be provided as the project progresses past the initial contractual conditions and into the implementation phase.