Fluor Corporation has been appointed to lead the proposed US$7.4 billion Donlin gold project’s bankable feasibility study, due for completion in 2027.
NOVAGOLD Resources, 60% owner of Donlin, said the major engineering firm brought substantial technical, engineering and execution capabilities to what is planned to be USA’s largest single operating gold mine. Frank Arcese, former North American mining capital projects business leader for Canadian engineering heavyweight WSP Global, became Donlin’s project director last month.
NOVAGOLD and 40% Donlin owner Paulson Advisers last year paid $1 billion for Barrick Mining’s 50% interest in the Alaska project.
Subject to a final investment decision, the partners want to be commercially producing gold at Donlin in 2031. They say the project’s 39 million-ounce resource base can support a mine averaging 1.1Moz a year for more than 27 years.
“The bidding process for the Donlin Gold BFS was thorough and competitive with participation from top-tier engineering firms,” NOVAGOLD said.
“Fluor will integrate the other major work packages into the overall project and coordinate with other specialist contractors on key pieces of infrastructure and process unit operations. These include the power plant, the natural gas pipeline and the pressure oxidation circuit and oxygen plant.
“The BFS work will be primarily conducted at Fluor’s offices in Canada, utilise high value centres, with coordination from the Donlin Gold office and project site in Alaska.”
No contract value was disclosed by either public company.
