BUTTING will be contributing significantly to the processing capacity of the present Pueblo Viejo gold mine expansion with the production and supply of piping components. Already during the period from 1979 to the temporary closure in 1999, at the instigation of the government of the Dominican Republic, reserves of 5 million ounces of gold and 22 million ounces of silver were extracted from oxide deposits in Pueblo Viejo. In 2002, following temporary closure, the government commissioned Barrick Gold Corp. to carry out a feasibility study as to whether it would be worthwhile to exploit the remaining reserves – and the result was positive: It is estimated that approximately 18 million ounces of gold, 88 million ounces of silver, 2.6 million pounds of zinc and 358 million pounds of copper can still be mined. A decision was therefore taken in favour of further exploitation of the mine. BUTTING Canada Ltd obtained the contract from a Canadian engineering company for the pipe components in 316L/UNS S31603 or in Duplex/UNS S31803/S32205 for this project. In close cooperation with the sales team in Knesebeck, the pipes in the 1in to 42in range with wall thicknesses from 2.87mm to 12.7mm were selected, and they are currently under production at the main site. They will subsequently be fitted with elbows, branches and tees as part of the prefabrication capacity. A special feature of this order is that, in on-site installation, upon the request of the customer, components will not be welded, but screwed in by means of Victaulic couplings. At the mining site, the prefabricated components will then be used in pipe systems for a wide range of purposes, e. g., air extraction, clean water supply and wastewater disposal.
