CIMIC Group company Sedgman has acquired Novopro Projects Inc., an engineering and metallurgy company based in Canada that provides engineering services and process equipment to projects in North America, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Australia.
Novopro’s core business and speciality is project development and operational optimization in minerals processing for lithium projects, as well as in potash, salt, magnesium and soda ash.
With this know-how in lithium processing technology, Sedgman gains access to opportunities in this expanding sector, as demand for batteries and electric vehicles increases.
Paired with Sedgman’s minerals processing expertise, project delivery capability and experience, this acquisition expands Sedgman’s service offering to clients from sustaining capital through to major greenfield development, while enhancing Sedgman’s growing North American presence and offering to clients.
Novopro will be re-named Sedgman Novopro and will operate as part of Sedgman in North America.
CIMIC Group Executive Chairman, Juan Santamaria, said: “As a specialist in developing, engineering, and managing projects in metallurgy, mining, and mineral processing, Sedgman Novopro will further diversify the services we provide to clients in North America, a key growth market for Sedgman, and to the rest of the world. I am pleased to welcome Sedgman Novopro to the CIMIC Group.”
Sedgman Managing Director, Grant Fraser, said: “We would like to warmly welcome the Novopro people to our team. Novopro has a long-standing reputation for working with operating facilities across the world and for design and mining expertise. The addition of Novopro to Sedgman will allow us to increase our offering to clients while complementing Sedgman’s existing capabilities. We are excited to work together on opportunities.”
Novopro Managing Director, Mazi Rejaee, said: “In Sedgman, we are pleased to find a strategic partner that complements our current services, expands our capability and offers new opportunities to our personnel and our clients.”
Sedgman and Novopro will work through a transition process focused on the continuity of service to clients.
CIMIC Group companies Sedgman and CPB Contractors, in joint venture, have been selected by BHP to undertake the Western Ridge Crusher Project in Western Australia.
The project, which will generate revenue to CIMIC of $757 million, involves an end-to-end solution for design and construction of a new 30 Mtpa primary crusher (separately procured by BHP) and a 12-kilometre overland conveyor, radial stacker and associated stockpiling systems, with a capacity of 30 Mtpa.
Sedgman and CPB Contractors have worked with BHP during the past 12 months to progress engineering, design and long-lead procurement for the project. The team will now commence construction at the end of May 2024.
CIMIC Group Executive Chairman Juan Santamaria said: “The unique combination of Sedgman’s mineral processing experience and CPB Contractors’ construction expertise provides our clients with the certainty of a proven track record in the delivery of major process infrastructure in the mining industry.”
Sedgman Managing Director Grant Fraser said: “We are pleased to continue our longstanding relationship with BHP and extensive work with CPB Contractors to deliver value for the Western Ridge Crusher Project. It is an exciting, long-term development in Western Australia.”
CPB Contractors Managing Director Jason Spears said: “CPB Contractors has a legacy delivering major projects for BHP in Western Australia and a current workforce based in the Pilbara region. We will continue to work closely with the local community to leverage employment, business and social opportunities with a focus on skills, training and diversity.”
Construction is expected to be completed ready for production to commence in the first quarter of FY27.
The Western Ridge Crusher site is on Nyiyaparli Country in the Pilbara region, approximately 21 kilometres southwest of Newman.
Sedgman, a member of the CIMIC Group, has acquired engineering company MinSol Engineering Pty Ltd. The acquisition is Sedgman’s third in the critical minerals processing sector, completing its strategy to become a full service, global provider in the extraction and refining of minerals essential to the rapidly growing clean energy technologies.
MinSol Engineering’s core business specialises in engineering of hard rock lithium concentration and refining processes including metallurgical test work, flow sheet development and detailed design.
The company, which will operate as Sedgman MinSol, has experience that has been integral to the development of the global lithium industry for more than 15 years.
Its expertise in hard rock lithium processing (including lithium carbonate concentration and lithium hydroxide refining), rare earths and mineral sands, complements Sedgman’s brine lithium processing capabilities acquired with Sedgman Novopro. This enables Sedgman to provide its clients with complete solutions in mineral processing for the global energy transition.
CIMIC Group Executive Chairman Juan Santamaria said: “With the acquisition of MinSol Engineering, Sedgman has finalised the strategic journey it embarked on two years ago to diversify its commodities and extend its global capability into hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, chemicals and energy.
“The acquisitions of Sedgman Onyx, Sedgman Novopro, Sedgman Prudentia and now Sedgman MinSol, are a sign of Sedgman’s boosted capabilities and extended geographical reach, consolidating its position as a leader in minerals processing on a global scale.”
Sedgman Managing Director Grant Fraser said: “Sedgman now covers the complete process flowsheet in the critical minerals industries from comminution and beneficiation to hydrometallurgical refining through leaching, purification and metal recovery.
“With the combined expertise of Sedgman Novopro and Sedgman MinSol, we aim to service the rising demand for brine lithium in the Americas and Europe, and hard rock lithium in Western Australia and North America, to support the demand for minerals used to manufacture the everyday goods used widely across our society and in the energy transition.”
We partner with our clients to deliver landmark projects by unlocking value in diverse projects around the world, including in mining & metals, fertiliser, metallurgical, chemical and infrastructure.
As CEO of Sarmin Minerals Exploration, a private equity funded portfolio company managing fertilizer assets in Africa, we engaged Sedgman Sedgman Novopro since late 2014, with various mandates throughout the project development stages. Sedgman Novopro’s senior management and its highly professional team of a wide range of disciplines are currently undertaking a comprehensive Definitive Feasibility Study programme including an ESIA Study for an anticipated $500M CAPEX project. Sedgman Novopro have always excelled with a premium effort with all project phases were always delivered on budget, high quality as well as the agreed time lines. It is a great delight to work with Sedgman Novopro. Sarmin Mineral Exploration wouldn’t hesitate to engage them again.
Achim Strauss CEO
SARMIN Minerals Exploration (SME)
Australian Potash has been working with the Sedgman Novopro team since 2016 as we progressed our solar salt SOP project in Western Australia through scoping and definitive feasibility studies. Their broad professional, technical expertise in our style of salt processing has been invaluable to us, matched as it is with a healthy pragmatism and willingness to work within our time-frames. We have developed a highly effective and thoroughly rewarding relationship.
Matt Shackleton Managing Director and CEO
Australian Potash LTD
Crystal Peak Minerals have been working with Sedgman Novopro since 2016 on the Sevier Playa Potash Project in Utah. Upon completion of a Feasibility Study, Sedgman Novopro has been mandated to a leading role in the Bridge Engineering phase of work including Basic Engineering. Sedgman Novopro has performed to a very high standard through excellent performance. Sedgman Novopro has industry leading potash expertise gained through work on several world-class projects globally and is well networked with many key independent experts in the space. Their team has continually strived to optimize the Project and have delivered on key Project deliverables on-time and on-budget. The Sedgman Novopro team often goes above and beyond to meet timelines and maintains open and clear lines of communication to ensure management is always fully informed. Sedgman Novopro has strived to enhance Project value by challenging the “status-quo” and has fully supported Crystal Peak Minerals in its efforts to develop the Sevier Playa Potash project. It is a pleasure to work with Sedgman Novopro and I look forward to long relationship with their team as we move our Project forward.
Dean Pekeski Vice President Project Development
Crystal Peak Minerals