Cuba has substantial nickel reserve located in Moa in the province of Holguín. In 2006 Moa Nickel Mine decided to expand their nickel production by 16,000 tons year, or about 50 percent, by the end of 2008. A gravity water filtration system followed by a demineralization system is required to support the expansion.

Napier-Reid supplied a gravity water filtration system in 2008 to treat water from a natural reservoir (at the design flow rate of 8,700m³/day), through three filtration trains consisting of flocculation tanks (using 2.5hp turbine floculators with VFD variable speed control) and gravity filters (using anthracite, silica sand, garnet sand and gravel) complete with all control valves and controls.

Water is then treated at a design flow of 6,720m³/hr by a demineralization system to produce demineralised water to be used in the plant. The system included three Strong Acid Cation (SAC) exchangers, one Vacuum Degasifier, three forwarding pumps, three Strong Base Anion (SBA) exchangers, and acid & caustic Regeneration Skids. SAC resins are used to remove the cationic ions in the water. This process is followed by a vacuum degasifier that removes the dissolved CO2 and oxygen. Water is then pumped to the three SBA exchangers where anionic ions are removed. The resins used in the removal of the mineral ions are regenerated periodically.

Napier-Reid supplied all the tanks lined with rubber and all the pipes welded to fit the tank layout. The entire system was preassembled at our factory and tested to ensure that all the components would be assembled easily at the jobsite.