Ausenco has begun mobilising its technical team for the Jervois project in São Paulo. Around 50 professionals will be assigned to the work, covering civil engineering, electromechanical assembly, health and safety, quality, project controls, and overall project management. Some of the team is already operating from Ausenco’s Belo Horizonte office, while others will move to the project site as activities ramp up.
EPCM Contract Sets Project in Motion
The mobilisation follows the signing of an engineering, procurement, and construction management contract between Ausenco and Jervois Brasil on December 30. Under the agreement, Ausenco is responsible for engineering work through to the pre-commissioning stage of the nickel and cobalt refinery. The facility is located in the São Miguel Paulista area in the eastern part of São Paulo.
Detailed engineering is currently underway, along with early supply planning.
Revitalising a Long-Running Refinery
The SMP refinery has been operating for roughly 30 years and is well known in Brazil for producing high-purity nickel and cobalt. According to project director Wilker Silva, the upgrade is an important step in bringing Brazil back into focus for these strategic materials.
He noted that the engineering phase is focused on improving process efficiency, modernising equipment, and reviewing plant-wide control systems. The team is also developing plans to limit operational and environmental impacts during the refurbishment period.
Location Brings Both Benefits and Challenges
While the refinery’s location in São Paulo is strategically important, it also adds complexity during construction. At peak activity, Jervois expects about 500 workers to be involved in the implementation phase.
Production Expectations
Concentrated ore will be delivered to the refinery by road. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to produce approximately 12,000 tonnes of nickel and 2,000 tonnes of cobalt per year.
