Vale CORe (Challenging Ore Recovery) project at Clarabelle Mill is a $200 million investment that will increase metal recoveries at the mill by four per cent, increasing the value extracted from existing resources. The CORe project is part of a $3.4 billion investment plan Vale announced for Sudbury operations in November of last year, one that will help modernize their operations and contribute to their ongoing competitiveness and sustainability for years to come in Sudbury.

The CORe project, overseen by Hatch, includes the construction of a new 38,000 square foot flotation plant containing a new flotation system using state-of-the- art technology. The project also involves technology improvements to existing mill infrastructure including

installation of a new Isa Mill and replacement of flotation cells. A new dry (change house) is also part of the project along with a construction and equipment laydown yard to accommodate the anticipated workforce.

The CORe project is a brownfield integration within the Clarabelle Mill and also includes a greenfield development of a new flotation building.

The brownfield work is being executed without interrupting plant operations and includes demolition of existing equipment, which is being replaced by a new 2,000-HP IsaMill – an energy efficient, high-intensity, large scale grinding mill for mineral ores. A new 69-kV substation Vale’s CORe Project Well Underway and banks of flotation cells are also included in the assignment.

The greenfield work includes a new 38,000 square foot flotation building, which houses the 100-cubic-metre flotation cells, flotation columns, blowers, compressors and slurry pumps. The new flotation circuit will improve nickel recovery from the existing ore while improving operations and enabling control of concentrate grades to the smelter.

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