In February 2004 Hatch, in joint venture with MacIntosh Engineering, was awarded the engineering, procurement, project and construction management (EPCM) assignment for Nickel Rim, a C$600-million exploration project on the northeast edge of the Sudbury basin
Hatch and MacIntosh also worked on the prefeasibility and feasibility studies through 2003.
Hatch and its joint venture partner are providing engineering, procurement, and construction management services for the Nickel Rim South mine project.
The project’s scope includes the development of surface infrastructure, a ventilation and secondary access shaft sunk to 1,685m, and a production shaft sunk to 1,750m. The project includes underground infrastructure, 11 km of lateral-mine access drifts and 105 km of diamond-drilling to prove ore-body geometry, mineral grades and tonnage.
As of November 2008, the project had surpassed five million work hours without a lost-time injury. Current plans are for a 1.25-million t/yr production rate. The infrastructure is designed to accommodate ore and waste extraction rates of up to 1.3 million t/yr. Project completion is scheduled for the end of 2009, when 60% of full mine production is achieved.
The Hatch project team ramped up to full strength with a 75-person team managing five design groups and up to 15 contracting firms on site simultaneously. Site preparation, services and development of electrical systems were completed in 2004, shaft sinking was completed in 2007 and lateral development and underground construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009.
