Project Overview
In 2013, Tronox and two other trona producers constructed a state-of-the-art Beneficiated Milled Trona (BMT) Plant in Green River, Wyoming to manufacture a specialty product for the power generation industry. Changing market conditions led to the facility shutting down after only a few months of operation, leaving a substantial amount of nearly new processing equipment within Tronox’s active mining complex.
The BMT facility consisted of three interconnected process areas: Ore Handling, Beneficiation, and Milling. Miles of elevated conveyors linked the plants and crossed multiple active operating areas. In 2016, the ownership group established a firm deadline to remove the complete facility, including equipment, structural steel, concrete foundations, pedestals, and footings.
Phoenix Equipment was selected through a competitive bidding process to manage the asset recovery and complete dismantlement. The approximately $3.5 million project was executed over roughly 10 months.
The Challenge
The BMT plant had to be dismantled inside an active mining operation subject to strict MSHA requirements, while adjacent production areas continued operating. Phoenix also had to coordinate removal of several miles of elevated conveyors that crossed active portions of the complex and complete the work within the ownership group’s project schedule.
At the same time, the plant contained more than 100 pieces of specialized, lightly used process equipment with significant resale potential. The project therefore required both a safe dismantlement plan and an asset recovery strategy that could preserve equipment value before demolition and scrap processing progressed.
Why Phoenix Was Selected
Phoenix had previously completed a major project at the Green River site, purchasing and relocating an entire sodium cyanide plant for continued use. That prior experience gave the ownership group confidence in Phoenix’s ability to work safely within the operating complex.
Phoenix submitted a competitive proposal based on the combined resale value of the process equipment and recyclable materials. Its experience working in active MSHA-regulated facilities, together with its ability to market used process equipment globally, allowed asset recovery to be built directly into the dismantlement strategy.
Asset Recovery & Equipment Remarketing
Before dismantlement began, Phoenix launched an international marketing effort targeting mining companies, mineral processors, and other industrial buyers. Equipment was evaluated individually for resale, relocation, or recycling so that higher-value machinery could be preserved before demolition progressed.
More than 100 pieces of process equipment were safely dismantled, rigged, and removed. Major assets included:
- 2 Williams DF-85 Fluid Bed Roller Mill Systems
- 2 Tomra Commodas Ultrasort Pro Secondary XRT C1200 Sorters
- General Kinematics STM 96x2 Single Deck Vibratory Screener
- McLanahan Double Roller Crusher, Model BDDR2448007
- McLanahan 48" × 17'6" Apron Feeder
- Gundlach Roll Crusher
- Several miles of elevated conveyor systems
- Additional material handling systems and ancillary process equipment
Some equipment was sold directly from the site, while remaining assets were transferred to Phoenix storage for continued remarketing. Millions of dollars of equipment were remarketed for continued industrial use.
Turnkey Dismantlement Within an Active Mining Complex
Phoenix managed the complete dismantlement program through experienced subcontractors while providing overall project oversight and coordination. The scope included equipment rigging and removal, structural steel dismantlement, process plant demolition, conveyor removal, concrete foundation demolition, scrap processing, recycling, and final site cleanup.
All foundations and footings associated with the BMT plant were removed. Phoenix also recycled more than 3,500 tons of carbon steel generated during the project.
The work was completed safely and on schedule, with zero recordable injuries or incidents despite the complexity of working inside an active MSHA-regulated mining operation.
Project Highlights
- Client: Tronox and BMT Ownership Group
- Location: Green River, Wyoming
- Facility: Beneficiated Milled Trona (BMT) Plant
- Process Areas: Ore Handling, Beneficiation and Milling
- Site Conditions: Active MSHA-Regulated Mining Complex
- Plant Status: Operated Only a Few Months Before Shutdown
- Phoenix Scope: Asset Recovery, Equipment Remarketing, Rigging, Dismantlement, Demolition, Conveyor Removal, Scrap Recycling and Site Cleanup
- Equipment Recovered: More Than 100 Pieces
- Conveyor Scope: Several Miles of Elevated Conveyors
- Carbon Steel Recycled: More Than 3,500 Tons
- Final Removal Scope: Equipment, Structural Steel, Foundations, Pedestals and Footings
- Project Duration: Approximately 10 Months
- Project Value: Approximately $3.5 Million
- Safety: Zero Recordable Injuries or Incidents
- Schedule: Completed On Schedule
- Owner Outcome: High-Value Equipment Recovered / Complete BMT Facility Removed
Recovering Value Before Dismantlement
The BMT project showed the value of integrating equipment remarketing with dismantlement from the start. Phoenix preserved more than 100 pieces of process equipment, recycled more than 3,500 tons of carbon steel, and removed the complete facility within an active MSHA-regulated mining complex, safely and on schedule.