Engineering consultancy Sinclair Knight Merz is celebrating almost 50 years of significant input into the development of mining and power projects in the Pilbara region.

SKM is participating in the Iron Ore Conference in Perth on July 27th to 29th 2009 to celebrate. The company will present a number of papers on SKM’s expertise in project management, bulk materials handling and environmental management.

SKM’s history in the Pilbara started in the 1960s when the company, then known as Merz Australia, was involved with a number of power projects in the region.

Since then, SKM’s work has expanded to include environmental management, and the study, engineering design and delivery of large mining projects, including expansion projects for the major miners in the region. These have included working on such projects as:
1. West Angeles - EPCM of Mine Processing facility and associated infrastructure;
2. Tom Price Brownfields Mine Expansion Project
3. Dampier Port Upgrade - Phases A & B
4. Cape Lambert Upgrade to 80Mtpa;
5. Mine and Port Developments JV - Studies and EPCM for MAC, PACE, RGP 1-4
6. Port Hedland and Newman Ports upgrades

According to SKM, all its projects are characterised by innovation in the design and delivery of award-winning solutions, such as for Rio Tinto’s Dampier Port Upgrade, which utilized modularization and sustainability initiatives, resulting in the project being delivered ahead of time and on budget with the significant safety milestone of five million hours LTI free. The project won the 2008 Engineers Australia Excellence Award.

SKM specializes in skills for mine infrastructure including ports, power and rail and materials handling.

(Sourced from pacetoday.com.au)