Velan has begun to ship Securaseal Severe Service Metal-Seated Ball Valves for the Rio Tuba Nickel HPP Project, in the Philippines. The contract was awarded to Velan earlier in the year by JGC Corporation of Japan. JGC is carrying out detailed design and the procurement of materials and equipment at its headquarters in Yokohama. SNC Lavalin Australia Pty Ltd is participating as a technical partner of JGC. The plant, scheduled for commissioning in summer 2004, will process low-grade nickel oxide ore to produce intermediary nickel products. The High Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) method developed by Sumitomo Metal Mining will be applied to the manufacturing process. The contract consists of the supply of over 150 severe-service metal-seated ball valves in titanium, super duplex SST and alloy 20. Of these, 34 are being supplied with pneumatic actuator packages supplied by Rotork-Fluid Systems. All valves will be supplied with ceramic coating developed specifically for this application.
