Ausenco

What Ausenco does

Ausenco is a global engineering, consulting, and project delivery firm that serves the mining and metals industry across the full project lifecycle, from conceptual studies and feasibility through engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM), commissioning, operational readiness, and mine closure. Founded in 1991 by Zimi Meka and headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, the company operates 26 offices across 14 countries with teams deployed in 80+ countries alongside clients, and is publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ticker AAX). Its customer base is concentrated in large and mid-tier mining houses developing copper, gold, iron ore, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, and other mineral projects, including Rio Tinto, Anglo American, Capstone Copper, Generation Mining, Canada Nickel, Jervois, and Hot Chili.

The firm's core technical capabilities are concentrated in slurry pipeline systems, mineral processing/concentration (notably copper concentrators, where Ausenco designed 2 of every 3 globally in the last six years), tailings and mine waste management, and complex multi-disciplinary EPCM project execution. Its technology stack includes the proprietary Pipeline Simulator and Pipeline Advisor software for slurry pipeline design and operations, supported by rheology laboratories in Brazil, Chile, and Peru that have characterized thousands of slurry samples, and the Hydraulic Dewatered Stacking (HDS) tailings technology co-developed with Anglo American. Digital offerings also include Orien (maintenance strategy) and AI applications positioned under a dedicated digital solutions practice.

Ausenco earns revenue primarily through professional services — engineering consulting, feasibility studies, and EPCM contracts — on a quote-based, competitively tendered pricing model with no publicly disclosed rates. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales: direct engagement with mining company leadership and project teams to secure multi-year, multi-phase mandates, often progressing clients from early-stage studies through detailed engineering and into construction management. Headcount is in the 1,001-5,000 range globally, and the company has expanded its geotechnical and process capabilities (especially in Brazil) while diversifying into battery-materials projects. Past M&A includes Pipeline Systems International (PSI) in 2008 and Hemmera in 2017.

Name

Ausenco

Legal name

Ausenco Limited

Website

http://www.ausenco.com/

Company type

Public

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Ausenco is a global engineering, consulting, and project delivery firm serving the mining and metals industry across the full project lifecycle, from feasibility studies through EPCM, with deep specialization in slurry pipelines, copper concentrators, and tailings management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mining Engineering & Project Delivery Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Mining (2131), Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114)

akta.pro primary industry

Project & Construction Management (EPCM, Owner’s Engineer, Scheduling/Controls) (IMAKAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mineral Processing Plant Design & EPCM (Flowsheet Development, Piloting & Scale-up) (IMAKALAK), Copper Mine Engineering, EPC & Expansion Projects (IMAKADAM), Mine Development & Processing EPC (Critical Minerals) (IMAKAFAM)

Keywords

• Mining engineering services
• EPCM project delivery
• Slurry pipeline design
• Mineral processing consulting
• Tailings management solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Engineering & Consulting Services: Professional engineering and consulting services provided to mining companies across all project phases from conceptual studies through feasibility to detailed engineering and project delivery.
2. EPCM (Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management): Full project delivery services including engineering design, procurement management, and construction management oversight for mining projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ausenco is a global engineering, consulting and project delivery firm that serves the mining and metals industry across the full project lifecycle—from conceptual design and feasibility studies through EPCM contracting, commissioning, and operational readiness. The company's core offerings include specialized capabilities in slurry, tailings and water pipeline systems, mineral processing, mine waste management, ports and logistics, environmental planning, and sustainability advisory. Its proprietary digital solutions—Pipeline Simulator™, Pipeline Advisor™ and Orien—and innovations such as Hydraulic Dewatered Stacking (HDS) extend engineering expertise into software-enabled operations and tailings management.

Product overview

Ausenco is a global engineering, consulting and project delivery firm serving the mining & metals and industrial sectors. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of services spanning the entire project lifecycle: from conceptual design and feasibility studies through EPC/EPCM contracting, commissioning, and operational readiness. Core service offerings include asset management and optimization, closure/remediation/reclamation, environmental planning and permitting, mine waste management, non-process infrastructure, ports and logistics, slurry/tailings/water pipelines, social performance, and sustainability. The company also provides specialized digital solutions including Pipeline Simulator and Pipeline Advisor software tools for pipeline design and operations, Orien for maintenance strategy, and Artificial Intelligence applications for mining optimization. Their services are delivered across 80+ countries with a global team based in 26 offices in 14 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Asset Management & Optimisation Ongoing asset management and optimization services for mining and industrial clients, supporting operational performance and reliability of process plants and infrastructure across the asset lifecycle.
• Closure, Remediation & Reclamation End-of-life mine closure, environmental remediation and land reclamation services for mining operators, supporting regulatory compliance and post-mining land use outcomes.
• Commissioning Commissioning services for mining process plants and associated infrastructure, ensuring safe and reliable handover from construction into operations.
• Conceptual Design & Feasibility Studies Early-stage conceptual design, scoping and feasibility studies (PEA, PFS, DFS) for mining and metals projects, supporting investment decisions and project sanctioning.
• Engineering, Procurement & Construction Management (EPCM) Full project delivery services for mining projects including engineering design, procurement management and construction management oversight, executed under EPCM contracts for clients such as Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Capstone Copper and Generation Mining.
• Environmental Planning & Permitting Environmental planning, ecological assessment and permitting services supporting mining clients through regulatory approval and ESG compliance processes.
• Mine Waste Management Mine waste management services covering tailings storage facility engineering, waste rock and water management, including application of innovations such as Hydraulic Dewatered Stacking (HDS).
• Non-Process Infrastructure Engineering of non-process infrastructure for mining operations including site facilities, utilities, accommodation, roads and supporting infrastructure outside the process plant.
• Operational Readiness Operational readiness consulting to prepare mining operations and assets for safe, efficient and reliable start-up and ongoing operations.
• Ports & Logistics Engineering and consulting for ports and mine-to-market logistics infrastructure, supporting cost-efficient bulk commodity transportation for mining clients.
• Slurry, Tailings & Water Pipelines Specialized engineering and design of long-distance slurry, tailings and water pipelines for mining projects, including challenging terrain, extreme climates and remote locations.
• Social Performance Social performance services for mining projects covering stakeholder engagement, community relations and social impact management throughout the project lifecycle.
• Sustainability Sustainability advisory integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into mining project design, delivery and operations.
• Pipeline Simulator™ Customized software used to train pipeline operators and help clients operate, control and optimize their pipeline systems safely.
• Pipeline Advisor™ Customized software for pipeline design and operational support used alongside Pipeline Simulator for comprehensive pipeline management.
• Orien Maintenance strategy digital solution for asset management and optimization, helping clients plan and execute maintenance across mining assets.
• Hydraulic Dewatered Stacking (HDS) Tailings management technology recovering over 80% of water without using filter or paste technologies, improving safety, sustainability and cost-efficiency in tailings storage.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of all long-distance slurry pipelines worldwide designed by Ausenco
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Aura MineralscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 18 June 2026Feasibility study conducted by Ausenco (along with Snowden Optiro) for the Era Dorada gold mining project in Guatemala, with construction approved in April 2026 and operations expected in H1 2028.
• Integra Resources Corp.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 June 2026Ausenco Engineering USA South Inc. appointed as lead engineering partner for detailed engineering activities at the DeLamar Project in southwestern Idaho, with SLR Consulting retained for specialized heap leach engineering.
• Hycroft Mining Holding CorporationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 June 2026Ausenco Engineering South USA completing Initial Assessment Technical Report with economic projections for the Hycroft Mine in Nevada, expected to be finalized in Q2 2026.
• Hot Chili LimitedcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 April 2026Ausenco appointed to lead the Feasibility Study for Costa Fuego copper-gold project in coastal Chile, accelerating development alongside the company's A$40 million private placement.
• Mayfair Gold Corp.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 27 April 2026Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) initiated with Ausenco Engineering for a 4,800 tpd processing facility at the Fenn-Gib Gold Project in Northern Ontario, targeting construction decision in 2028.
• Cassiar GoldcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 April 2026Ausenco engaged to deliver a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Taurus gold deposit in northern British Columbia, targeting completion in Q3 2026.
• Fireweed Metals Corp.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 9 March 2026Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC engaged as part of team for updated Feasibility Study for the Mactung Tungsten Project in Yukon, Canada, expected to complete early 2027.
• Generation MiningcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 March 2026Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC awarded EPCM (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management) contract for the Marathon Copper-Palladium Project in Northwestern Ontario. The partnership aims to advance the project into detailed design and execution phases, with field operations expected to start in late 2026.
• Rupert ResourcescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 February 2026Ausenco appointed to lead the Definitive Feasibility Study for the Ikkari gold project in Northern Finland, marking the project's formal entry into the feasibility phase with study completion expected by end of H1 2027.
• Luca Mining Corp.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 18 February 2026Ausenco selected as technical consultant for the two-phase Campo Morado Expansion project in Mexico, designing mill optimization and expansion targeting improved metal recoveries through bulk sulphide flotation and gold-silver doré production.
• Lavras Gold Corp.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 9 February 2026Ausenco do Brasil selected to lead process plant design and infrastructure engineering for the Butiá-Fazenda do Posto Project in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil toward the Preliminary Economic Assessment stage.
• Northcliff ResourcescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 February 2026Feasibility study update led by Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC for the Sisson Tungsten-Molybdenum Project in New Brunswick, Canada, expected to complete mid-2026.
• Canada Nickel Company Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 January 2026Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC awarded contract to commence detailed engineering for the Process Plant and supporting infrastructure at the Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project in Ontario, targeting construction commencement by year-end. Follows previous collaboration on PEA (2020), Feasibility Study (2023), and front-end engineering design (2025).
• Jervois GlobalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 January 2026Ausenco contracted to revitalize the Jervois nickel and cobalt refinery in São Miguel Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil, targeting restoration of 12,000 tpa nickel and 2,000 tpa cobalt production capacity for battery supply chain.
• Probe Gold Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 3 June 2025Ausenco awarded major engineering contract to lead the Pre-Feasibility Study and process plant design for the flagship Novador Gold Project in Quebec, Canada, on track for completion by year-end 2025.
• Anglo AmericancoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 9 July 2024Collaborating with Ausenco on Hydraulic Dewatered Stacking (HDS) technology for tailings management at El Soldado copper mine in Chile, recovering over 80% of water without filter or paste technologies.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Worley: Australia-headquartered global engineering and project delivery firm with a substantial mining and metals practice. Closest direct peer to Ausenco given overlapping EPCM services, mining focus, and Australian listing/headquarters.
• Hatch: Canadian global engineering and project delivery firm specializing in mining, metals, and energy. Directly comparable to Ausenco in mine development, mineral processing plant design, and slurry/tailings pipeline engineering for major mining clients.
• Stantec: Canadian global engineering, architecture, and environmental services firm with a meaningful mining practice. Direct competitor for feasibility studies, environmental planning, and mine infrastructure engineering, particularly across the Americas.
• GHD: Australia-headquartered global engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting firm with a significant mining practice. Direct peer given shared Australian roots, mining focus, and EPCM-style service offerings.
• DRA Global: South Africa-headquartered global mining engineering and project delivery firm. Closely comparable to Ausenco in mine development, mineral processing plant design, and EPCM delivery for mid-tier and major mining clients across Africa, the Americas, and Australasia.

Broad incumbents

• Bechtel: Largest privately held U.S. EPC firm with mining and metals capability among broader infrastructure, energy, and defense work. Competes with Ausenco on large mining EPCM mandates but is a broader, more diversified incumbent.
• Fluor: Global U.S.-headquartered EPC firm with a mining and metals solutions group. Overlaps with Ausenco on copper concentrator and mine development projects, but operates across a much wider portfolio including energy, chemicals, and government services.
• AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin): Canadian global engineering and project management firm with mining services among its broader infrastructure and nuclear portfolio. Competes with Ausenco on selected mining mandates while offering multi-sector scale.
• Wood Group: UK-headquartered global engineering and consulting firm with a process and energy focus including mining and metals adjacencies. Overlaps with Ausenco on minerals processing engineering but has a substantially larger and more diversified book.
• WSP Global: Canadian global engineering consultancy with a strong mining and energy practice. Comparable to Ausenco in feasibility and mine infrastructure engineering, though operating across a much broader built-environment portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ausenco