Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2 issue

SECOND QUARTER 2020

VOLUME 10 |2

See Directory pp21-23

TEN YEARS OF COPPER JULY 2011

VOLUME 1 | 1

JULY/AUGUST 2012

VOLUME 2 | 3

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013

VOLUME 3 | 4

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

VOLUME 4 | 1

5TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

VOLUME 6 | 2

See Buyers Guide pp26-27

Key Words: The future is not a commodity - neither are our grandchildren

People: Ankh and Outotec award winners

Key KeyWords: Words: Opportunity The future isinnot a multi-metal commodity -recycling neither are our grandchildren News: Integrated Acquisitions and production looms projects mostly - tracking the moving forward migration route of smelter Chinaprojects Review: Project roundup capacity Spotlight: and Aurubis and Luvata targets in the first of a wave 11thof World strategic Copper realignments?

Conference The Review ECI calls for Pictorial better EU resource efficiency Coppermeasures Scrap Recycling GIFA Preview – Xstrata takes industry oncopper valuables suppliers Metallo interview In Profile: Copper Recycling Bob Kickham Conference - with SDI Laheritage Farga Comes a responsibility Cold Rolling Fröhling in China report China - ROCS in every issue Sensor benefits with support from Beijing Buyers Guide Antaike Refractories Insulation An inspiring event and in May – will it new entry revitalise a copper niche Daily Lives sector?

Globetrotting People: electrowinning Ankh and Outotec consultant on winners a award handshake

Copper China a new addition to the Chinese show calendar

25th Copper China International a new addition Copper to the Chinese event inshow Hamburg calendar

Integrated production looms - tracking the migration route of smelter projects Spotlight: Aurubis and Luvata in the first of a wave of strategic realignments?

The ECI calls for better EU resource efficiency measures GIFA Preview – copper industry suppliers In Profile: Bob Kickham with heritage Comes a responsibility China report in every issue with support from Beijing Antaike An inspiring event in May – will it revitalise a copper niche sector?

Key KeyWords: Words: Views of isinnot a Opportunity The future Oyu Tolgoi -recycling multi-metal commodity neither are our grandchildren News: Mergers create Integrated Acquisitions and synergies production looms projects mostly Brazil invests - tracking the moving forward Half-year migrationupdates route of smelter Chinaprojects Review:

Special Reports: Project roundup Semis gathering capacity Spotlight: and Safety and Aurubis and Luvata targets Maintenance in the first of a wave 11thof World strategic 8th COPPER/Cobre Copper realignments? back to Santiago Conference Optimised The Review ECIsmelter calls for Pictorial concentrate supply better EU resource efficiency Coppermeasures Scrap Rolling- quality Recycling control issues GIFA Preview – Xstrata takes expertly solved industry oncopper valuables suppliers

Stewart Alex Metallo interview reveals the art In Profile: Copper Recycling ofBob inspection Kickham Conference - and analysis with heritage SDI La Farga

Key KeyWords: Words: Opportunity Copper The future 2013isinnot a impressions multi-metal commodity -recycling neither are our grandchildren News: Integrated Acquisitions Turkey business and production looms projects Upstream mostly efficiency - tracking the moving Africa and forward Asia migration route of gatherings smelter Chinaprojects Review: Special Reports: Project roundup capacity Spotlight: Semis will meet and Aurubis and Luvata in Mumbai targets in the first of a Copperbelt latest wave 11thof World strategic realignments?

8th Copper/Cobre Copper First hand Conference The Review ECIbycalls for Interviews Pictorial betterLillo EU resource Marta efficiency Coppermeasures Scrap Refinery Recycling GIFA Preview – power and Xstrata takes industry maintenance oncopper valuables suppliers Refractories Metallo interview reach In Profile: Copper that Recycling the Bob Kickham Conference highest - with SDI specifications Laheritage Farga Comes a responsibility Cold Rolling Electrowinning Fröhling & Electrorefining in China report China process - progress ROCS in every issue Sensor benefits with Contracts: support from Beijing Buyers Guide Hamburg refit Antaike Refractories Bascur awarded and An inspiring and Insulation Rod strip event in May – will it new entry revitalise Rollingaspray copper niche Daily Lives systems sector?

Globetrotting development People: electrowinning Ankh Company and Outotec consultant on Profile Schenck Process winners a award handshake can handle it 25th Copper China a new Buyers Guide International addition All Copper topurchasing the Chinese event needs fulfilled inshow Hamburg calendar

Comes a Copper

Chunlei responsibility Cold Rolling gets rolling Fröhling in Hot tinning dip China report China - ROCS Mill contracts in every issue Sensor benefits support from with EVENTS

Buyers Guide Antaike –Beijing Three reviewed Refractories and four previewed Insulation An inspiring event and May – Review: will it new entry in China revitalise a copper 2013 forecasts niche Daily Lives sector? and projects Globetrotting People: electrowinning Company Ankh and consultant on Profile – Outotec winners a award handshake FLOGEN STAR gives recognition 25th Copper China International addition a new Buyers Guide – Copper to the Chinese event New entry in inshow Hamburg calendar heat recovery

METALLIC MEDIA LTD

METALLIC MEDIA LTD

METALLIC MEDIA LTD

METALLIC MEDIA LTD

ISSN 2046-9438 PENDING

ISSN 2046-9438 PENDING

ISSN 2046-9438 PENDING

ISSN 2046-9438 PENDING

www.copperworldwide.com

www.copperworldwide.com

www.copperworldwide.com

“Over the last 10 years Copper Worldwide has become a valuable source of news, insights and information about the international copper industry - in particular for the copper processing industry.

At the IWCC we have been delighted to regularly contribute to Copper Worldwide magazine, and continue to see the publication as an important way to promote our work and events to the wider copper industry. I expect that under the leadership of Editor Chris Holding, Copper Worldwide will continue to go from strength to strength in the next 10 years as well.”

- Mark Loveitt, IWCC President

“The SMS group team would like to congratulate to Chris Holding and Copper Worldwide for a decade’s work by the magazine in support of the Copper Industry. The accompanying good reporting of innovations and technologies by the magazine was always important for us and we appreciate the good cooperation. Wecontinue to wish you all the best for the future.”

Aurubis. An official partner of innovative ideas since 1866.

We have been supplying the material for modern energy for 150 years.

When innovations impact the world, Aurubis copper is there. This was true in 1866, the year our company was founded, and is still the case today. With our 150th anniversary, we are therefore also celebrating a metal that enables progress.

Discover our history at www.150-years-of-the-future.com

n Key Words: Measuring innovation n News: Aurubis is 150 Klopper returns KOV pit wall Latest figures n Primary Smelting: Acid plant trend Bale honoured Roaster for Glogow n Spotlight: South Korea examined by Barnes n Managerial Review: Strategies and projects n Copper in Australia: Phillip Mackey on a nation with copper pedigree n Melting and Casting: Otto Junker in China supply n Events: CESCO Week Wire 2016 Review ICC meets ICSG African Events Coming in 2016 n Contracts: Arriagada appointed MINO in Turkey buntmetall press Jacques at Rio n Buyers Guide Need help with new challenges?

ISSN 2046-9438

www.copperworldwide.com

www.copperworldwide.com

“The International Copper Association (ICA) works to develop and defend copper markets. For almost a decade we have valued the support received from Copper Worldwide magazine and Chris Holding, its editor. Copper World0wide gives ICA the opportunity to bring important industry issues to a larger audience, and we look forward to working with this essential resource for many years to come.”

- International Copper Association (ICA)

“This year Copper Worldwide magazine is celebrating their 10th anniversary and Continuus-Properzi is happy to share in this joyous occasion. This publication has been our gateway to the world allowing us to promote our engineering and technology which is the result of our most treasured asset, our Research and Development Department. This is simply a tribute to the friendship that has evolved between Continuus-Properzi and Mr. Chris Holding, a man who turned his passion into a successful business. We wish him the best of luck for the next 10 years!”

- SMS group

- Continuus-Properzi Team

“Copper Worldwide gives a great and still compact overview of all activities happening in our industry all over the world. For me personally, Copper Worldwide is the magazine where my number of read articles is by far the highest regarding the offered articles.

Another very special highlight is the annually updated wall map of all copper smelters and refineries in the world.”

“Copper Worldwide offers a valuable service to the copper sector with its magazine focusing on copper production and processing which provides a convenient way to keep up with current news and developments in the industry. ALTA has worked with Copper Worldwide since 2015 for advertising and publishing and they have co-sponsored the annual ALTA conference since 2015.

We look forward to continuing this important partnership for years to come.”

- Dr. Andreas Filzwieser, Managing Director, Mettop GmbH

“Copper Worldwide Magazine is a complete, reliable, comprehensive and continuously updated source of information regarding not only the worldwide copper and copper alloys market but also the latest technologies of copper alloys processing and copper products manufacturing. The accurate preparation of each issue of the Magazine and the variety of contents of the articles make Copper Worldwide Magazine an indispensable reference for all the industries, engineering companies, equipment suppliers and research organisations.”

- Geminiano Chiesa, Business Area Manager, MINO S.p.A. FOURTH QUARTER 2018

VOLUME 8 |4

FIRST QUARTER 2019

VOLUME 9 |1

See Directory pp25-27

n Key Words: Energy transition Chile example n News: Market forecasts FCX performs Glencore 25% EU debates n Smelting: Mackey on papers Best practice New solutions Experiences n Spotlight: Extraction 2018 full review n Rolling: Danieli tips Aurubis FRP n Thermal Processes: Annealing tips Anode lining design n Inspection: Drone power n Safety: Acid mist capture options n Events: JOGMEC / ACW IMARC / IWCC IERC / ICC / WCC n Contracts: Ecuador plans Norilsk grows New appointees n Supplier Directory New entries and new logos

Visit us at World Copper Conference 8–10 April 2019, Santiago Chile

— ABB Ability™ MineOptimize Unified and enterprise-wide way to digital transformation Optimized CAPEX, maximized productivity, sustainability and safety are values that digitally connected products, services and solutions create for the mining industry. ABB unifies and simplifies access to all its engineering capabilities, system solutions, digital applications and collaborative services for mining and mineral processing. abb.com/mining

-A llison Taylor, Conference & Exhibition Manager, ALTA Metallurgical Services

“Copper Worldwide has established itself as a welcome addition to the existing magazines. Personally, I value most the up-todate information about the industry, presented in a slim design reduced to the essentials. I wish Chris all the best for the future and I look forward to the next issues of his magazine.”

- Dr. Stefan Konetschnik, Managing Director, UrbanGold GmbH

A huge thank you to everyone for all your kind comments

SECOND QUARTER 2019

VOLUME 9 |2

See Directory pp21-23

See Directory pp25-27

n Key Words: Will it be a WCC to remember? n News: Roland Harings MKM and KME Latest figures Majors news n Smelting/Refining: Mackey on why Chagres Smelter has lasted over 100 years n Spotlight: Discover your digital twin n Rod Tube Wire: Barnes on Taiwan Latest stories n Melting/Casting: La Farga inaugurates new line n CESCO Week: Programme news

n Key Words: Copper Mark Sourcing right Thinking whole n News: Udokan supply Mayr at IWCC New mergers Latest figures n Smelting: KGHM upgrades Sulphide ore treatment n 18th WCC Review: CRU at 50 Special Q&A n GIFA-GMTN 2019: Three pages of exhibitor profiles n Managerial: Antofagasta BHP / FCX Southern Copper n Operational: CEEC Innovation

n Integration: ABB optimises mine activities n Events: IERC 2019 32nd ICC What is coming n Contracts: CRMs on the move New orders placed Expansions n Supplier Directory Get what you need right here

n New Frontiers: Vancouver for COM + Copper n Events: IWCC TS Shanghai TMS 2019 ALTA summary n Contracts: Ningbo mills Resolution Copper Executive moves n Supplier Directory Always get what you want here

THIRD QUARTER 2019

VOLUME 9 |3

CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS In times of rapidly changing markets, you want your business partner to deliver solutions tailored to your needs. We listen. We learn. We deliver: in close Collaboration with you, we design simple customized solutions. Fast and flexible, we implement advanced technologies in line with your requirements. Whatever you envision, we will make it happen for you.

Leading partner in the world of metals

n Key Words: Vancouver barometer favourable n News: Steam plant Oyu Tolgoi RMI and ICA New reports n New Frontiers: COM + Copper EMC 2019 Cu technologists n Hydrometallurgy: New filters Tailings in focus n Primary: Flash smelting turns 70 n Recycling and scrap: SMM looks at China scrap n Products: High bay storage In-field analysis n Event Previews: LME Week Asia Copper Week IMARC SIPS 2020 Schedule n Contracts: Andritz moves China projects New equipments El Teniente n Supplier Directory Always get what you want here

www.sms-group.com

ISSN 2046-9438

ISSN 2046-9438

www.copperworldwide.com

www.copperworldwide.com ABB_FrontCover_CW_MineOptimize_190307.indd 1

ISSN 2046-9438

www.copperworldwide.com

FIRST QUARTER 2020

VOLUME 10 |1

See Directory pp25-27

ISSN 2046-9438

Customized Solution_A4_e.indd 1

www.copperworldwide.com

09.11.17 11:32

See Directory pp21-23

THE MARKETPLACE LEADER AND A NAME YOU CAN TRUST IN

CONTINUOUS CAST COPPER ROD • Equipment that is easy to operate and maintain with low operating cost.

• Largest technology pool in the industry sharing know how and improvements since 1969.

• 50% of the worlds ETP copper rod is produced on an SCR System.

• The only supplier in this market that operates the same equipment it sells.

SCR Technologies One Southwire Drive Carrollton, GA 30119, U.S.A.

Phone: 770-832-4108 Fax: 770-838-6600

Visit us at: www.southwire.com/SCR.htm Email: scrsales@southwire.com

©2015 Southwire Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ® Registered Trademark of Southwire Company, LLC.

n Key Words: COVID-19 effect Scrap flows E-scrap outlook n News: Mine forecasts Recycled trade Smelter updates Key appointees n Electrorefining: Anode makeup Capacities Market n Tube and wire: Suppliers and processes n Primary: Zijin profile Steam drying n Energy Efficiency: Smelt well Renewables n Rolling: Turkey and Taiwan contracts n Events: Cesco / WCC Wire Tube 2020 Digital Mines ALTA at 25 GDMB work n Contracts: Project plans Appointments MINO mill Amer Xinjiang n Supplier Directory Find what you need in here

n Spotlight: COVID-19 ICSG Insights CRU webinars n News: Role of copper Chinalco speaks Force majeure Market effects Aurubis buys n 21st Century Smelting: Cu Pb Zn flowsheets n Managerial: Three pages of summaries n Russia: Expert analysis n Sustainable Supply: CEO tips SMS group in NFM n Rolling: Mill and annealing orders placed n Events: New calendar 16 upcoming events in 2020 and 2021 to plan for n Contracts: SCC in Mexico Miners move PPE Wieland acquires n Supplier Directory Online learning section

ISSN 2046-9438

www.copperworldwide.com

08.03.2019 07:53:29

ISSN 2046-9438

www.copperworldwide.com

PROPERZI TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY

ENORMOUS RETURN FROM SUCH A SMALL INVESTMENT!

WITH: THE NEW PROPERZI TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY You have access to: • Remote assistance via internet connection • Written consultancy by e-mail • On-site technical audit • Training courses at Properzi headquarters for your team

CONTACT OUR EXPERT TEAM: CONSULTANCY@PROPERZI.IT

CONTENTS | 1

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

News

4,5

Associations champion copper in pandemic; Chinalco wants smelting curbs; South America hit by COVID-19; Force majeure liability; Crisis-related market activity

7

Metallo acquisition; Jiangxi Copper reports Q1; Market data and forecasts

Spotlight - COVID-19

6

ICSG gives insight and estimates; CRU hosts impact webinars

With the JSC Uralelektromed (UMMC metallurgical division) 160 ktpy second stage of the tankhouse completed, the permanent cathodes output doubles to 320 ktpy (see Page 13)

Inside this issue Chuquicamata Subterannea, which commenced operations in 2019, is a strategic project that represents an important part of Codelco’s future (see Page 9)

SUSTAINABILITY

14

Crisis handling tips from former mining CEOs Albanese and Carroll

MATERIALS HANDLING

15

3,8

Copper lead and zinc synergies with P. J. Mackey

MANAGERIAL REVIEW

9,10 & 11

Codelco cleans up; First Quantum

Kopar’s heavy-duty design;

and Antofagasta Q1; BHP steady FY; FCX refines

FEECO’s rugged heap leach range

plans; Glencore and KGHM 2019 summaries;

Product Information

21

21ST CENTURY SMELTING

Ventilator splitter design; IsaMill maintenance app; Metal chute sorter

Rolling Update

24

Northern Copper selects MINO; Ningbo relies on Otto Junker; 20 CRM orders for SMS group and Andritz

Contracts & People

16

Southern Copper in Mexico; Metso linings for RCC; Miners become PPE movers

17

Wieland acquires Scott Brass; Looking after contractors; Renewables supply grid

Supplier Directory

21-23

Includes online learning section

MMG Peru issues; Southern Copper excels in 2019; Katanga and Vale Q1; Kamoa-Kakula update; Rio Tinto cautious; Vedanta half year to September

RUSSIA INSIGHT

12,13

Jonathan Barnes gives his verdict; RCC sets out ambitions

SUSTAINABLE SUPPLIER

18,19

The SMS group brings excellent design concepts and service

solutions to the Non-Ferrous Metals Industry

OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY

20

Modernising a copper shaft furnace

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

RESCHEDULED EVENTS

25

A new look calendar of events up to mid-2021 at time of publication

COVER A selection of Back Covers and Testimonials

Opposite Page Properzi began in Copper Worldwide by talking about one of our core businesses: systems related to the production of copper wire rod from cathodes (CCR Copper Lines for ETP rod) and from Cu scrap (CCR Copper Lines for FRHC rod). This naturally led to a description of our ‘combined CCR systems’ designed for the exploitation of both raw materials and the ability to alternate production between ETP rod and FRHC rod. Subsequently we also have had the pleasure of presenting ContinuusProperzi as a ‘furnace manufacturer’ when we showcased one of the patented designs of our President, Mr. Giulio Properzi: the 250-ton refining furnace with the innovative roof-top charging system. We also featured our Self-Annealing Microrolling® (SAM) method based upon the patented Properzi Microrolling® technology.

The SAM method replaces the conventional drawing/annealing processes while offering significant energy savings. www.properzi.com

2 | COPPER WORLDWIDE A-Z

www. c op p e r wor l d w i de. co m

Companies COMPANY NAME

Volume No: 10 Issue No: 02 Date: Second Quarter 2020

Publisher: Chris K Holding BSc BEng Publishing Consultant: John Clarke Contributing Editors: Phillip Mackey Jonathan Barnes IT/www Contact: copper@atrium5.plus.com

Managing Director: Chris K Holding copper@atrium5.plus.com Published by Metallic Media Ltd 5 Dennis Road Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3NF United Kingdom Tel: +44(0)7731 784798 www.copperworldwide.com Distribution: free to managers involved in the various stages of the copper industry: Production of primary or secondary copper and associated refining; recycling, melting and casting operations; processing of copper by extrusion, rolling and tube/wire drawing for the manufacture of semi-finished products or fabrications; or involved in the manufacture of components and structures from copper alloys; and who are involved in the buying process for equipment and materials.

All other categories of reader are invited to subscribe at £80.00 to UK, and Non-UK is: Surface £98.00, e125.00, $170 USD Airmail: £120.00, e150.00, $200 USD Single copy £28, e40, $55 incl. p&p.

The articles within Copper Worldwide are copyright and are the property of the publisher Metallic Media Limited and cannot be reproduced in any media form without permission of the publisher. Application should be made via the webform Reprints of articles and advertisements are available, allow 28 days for delivery. PDF pages available by e-mail. Prices on application to the publisher.

Instead of Reader Reply cards, we are now including a contact website address with stories at the sole discretion of the Editor. You may submit your enquiries with the item titles, page and your full address, telephone, fax using the contact form on: www.copperworldwide.com

Magazine Production Toni Barrington, The Magazine Production Company Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5EG, UK Tel: +44 (0)1273 467579 info@magazineproduction.com

PAGE NO

COMPANY NAME

PAGE NO

COMPANY NAME

PAGE NO

ABB..................................................... Cover 1, 17

ERG.................................................................... 16

Ningbo Powerway............................................. 24

ALTA 2020......................................... Cover 1, 25

ET’ 2021............................................................. 25

Non-Ferrous Metals and Minerals.................. 25

ALTA Metallurgical Services................. Cover 1

Fastmarkets MB (Events).......................... 14, 17

Norilsk Nickel............................................. 12, 13

ALUMINIUM 2020.......................................... 25

FEECO International....................................... 15

Northern Copper......................................... 20, 24

Andritz Group................................................... 20

First Quantum..................................................... 9

Otto Junker........................................................ 24

Anglo American................................................ 14

Freeport McMoRan (FCX).......................... 4, 10

Outotec............................................................... 23

Antofagasta plc................................................ 4, 9

GDMB (EMC 2021)...................................... 4, 25

Pb-Zn 2020 (TMS).......................................... 3, 8

Aurubis........................................Cover 1, 3, 7, 19

GIFA.......................................................... Cover 1

P. J. Mackey..................................................... 3, 8

Base Metals 2021............................................... 25

Glencore....................................................... 10, 16

Rio Tinto................................................ 11, 14, 17

Bechtel Corporation.......................................... 17

Glencore Technology.................................. 16, 21

Roskill.......................................................... 12, 16

Beijing Antaike

IMPC 2020......................................................... 25

Information Development.......... 4, 5, 7, 16, 17

International Copper Association.......... Cover 1

BHP ............................................................... 9, 17

International Copper Study Group........... 5, 6, 7

Chinalco............................................................... 4

International Wrought

Russian Copper Company................... 12, 13, 16 SAIMM............................................................... 25 Scott Brass......................................................... 17 SEforALL............................................................. 5

CIM.................................................................... 23

Copper Council..................Cover 1, 4, 5, 7, 25

CIPS..................................................................... 5

ISRI 2021........................................................... 25

Clariden Global................................................. 25

Ivanhoe Mines................................................... 11

Cobre Las Cruces................................................ 3

Jiangxi Copper ................................................... 7

Codelco............................................................. 1, 9

Jintian Ningbo................................................... 20

Combilift............................................................ 21

Jonathan Barnes................................................ 12

COMET................................................................ 5

JX Nippon Mining and Metals.......................... 3

Continuus-Properzi............................. Cover 1, 1

Katanga Mining...................................... 5, 11, 16

3rd Copper Cobalt Africa................................. 25

KGHM.......................................................... 10, 16

Copper Development Association..................... 4

Kopar Group...................................................... 15

TOMRA.............................................................. 17

CRU Consulting.................................................. 6

Las Bambas........................................................ 10

UMMC..................................................... 1, 12, 13

CRU Events................................................... 6, 25

LME............................................................. 4, 5, 7

UrbanGold................................................ Cover 1

Cu2 Consulting................................................... 5

Metal + Metallurgy China 2020..................... 25

Vale............................................................... 11, 16

Cynthia Carroll interview................................ 14

Metallo............................................................. 3, 7

Vedanta........................................................ 11, 17

Daye Nonferrous Metals.................................... 4

Metso.................................................................. 16

Wieland.............................................................. 17

Deutsche Giessdraht......................................... 20

Mettop....................................................... Cover 1

Wire/Tube 2020................................................ 25

Digital Mines 2020 (Clariden Global)............ 25

MINO.................................................. Cover 1, 24

World Bureau of Metal Statistics...................... 4

Elemica............................................................... 17

Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.................. 16

World Copper Conference (CRU Events)...... 25

EMC 2021 (GDMB).......................................... 25

MMG.................................................................. 10

Zijin Mining........................................................ 5

EMR................................................................... 17

Montanwerke Brixlegg..................................... 24

ZIMEC 2021...................................................... 25

SMS group..............................Cover 1, 18, 19, 20 Southern Copper Corporation (SCC)....... 10, 16 Southwire Company / SCR............... Cover 1, 17 STEINERT........................................................ 21 Sulphur + Sulphuric Acid (CRU Events)..... 25 Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid (SAIMM).......... 25 TMS 2020......................................................... 3, 8 Tom Albanese interview................................... 14

Advertisers COMPANY NAME

PAGE NO

COMPANY NAME

PAGE NO

COMPANY NAME

PAGE NO

Alex Stewart International......................................23

HarbisonWalker International...............................22

MINO........................................................ 23, Cover 4

ALTA 2020...............................................................25

Heath & Sherwood (1964) ......................................23

Otto Junker...............................................................13

Andritz Maerz....................................................22, 23

Holton Crest.............................................................21

CA Group..................................................................21

Kopar.........................................................................21

Combilift...................................................................22

Kumera Corporation.........................................21, 22

Continuus-Properzi........................................Cover 2

Küttner GmbH............................... Cover 1, 8, 22, 23

CRU Events (WCC 2021).......................................25

Metalex................................................................21, 23

Weir Minerals...........................................................22

Danieli Froehling....................................................22

Mettop.................................................................21, 22

World Copper Conference 2021 (CRU)................25

PolyMet Solutions....................................................22 Primetals Technologies...........................................23 Saint Gobain.............................................................22 SMS group..........................................................18, 19 UrbanGold..........................................................21, 22

Showing promise for the future – Discover copper affecting the ISSUES now!

The next Vol 10 No 3 issue of Copper Worldwide is published in August/September 2020. Scheduled features include Hydrometallurgy, Copper Semis, Extrusion, Recycling and Scrap, Instrumentation and Monitoring, Run of Mine Operations, Energy Efficiency, Profiles and Reviews, and more. Supporting website www.copperworldwide.com features up-to-date content and event details. Thank you to all advertisers once again.

All correspondence welcome.

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

21ST CENTURY SMELTING | 3

www.copperwor ldw ide. co m

About time for Cu-Pb-Zn Plants Phillip Mackey reviews papers at the Pb-Zn 2020: 9th International Symposium on Lead and Zinc Processing, held within the 2020 TMS Annual Meeting in California in February.

Nearly 60 years ago, the AIME Extractive Metallurgy Lecturer in 1962 described the processes for dealing with the interrelated flowsheets of copper, lead and zinc as the “world’s most complex metallurgy”. A review of selected papers at the recent Pb-Zn 2020 Symposium suggests the complexity remains but today we have better processes and tools to optimise operations.

The title of the 1962 Lecture, “The World’s Most Complex Metallurgy (Copper, lead and Zinc)” (1) was certainly eye-catching. Delivered

by Dr. Albert J. Phillips, noted metallurgist and Vice President at the former Asarco Company in the USA, it described the complex interaction and processes by which more than twenty-five metals and products were obtained by the processing of a wide range of ores of copper, lead and zinc and recycled residues.

Phillips described the numerous flowsheets used by Asarco at the time which produced this impressive array of products. Figure 1 taken from his paper illustrates the metallurgical circuits at the Asarco copper, lead and zinc plants - a type of mini circular economy.

Important quantities of these same products continue to be produced via interlinking copper, lead and zinc smelting and refining processes - made more important today with the increased need for recycling.

The synergies between copper, lead and zinc arise from the complex Cu-Pb-Zn sulphide ores that are processed, and the recycle of used products made from copper alloyed with zinc and other metals, such as brass or bronze. Over twenty papers at the Pb-Zn2020 Symposium referred to copper-lead-zinc synergies, and several of these are reviewed.

Apologies for any papers not highlighted.

European plants studies

C. Zschiesche and I Bauer, “Processing of polymetallic materials requires flexible and capable downstream refining technology: Aurubis lead refinery as economic, modern and well integrated plant at the Hamburg plant” The Hamburg smelter site of Aurubis has always treated copper and lead materials with economic recovery of a wide range of products and by-products. The authors described copper operations at the lead plant and showed how the well-established synergy at the copper and lead plants continues. The Hamburg lead refinery, which was renovated in 2014 for a capacity of 50,000 tpy lead, was also described.

S. Nagraj, M. Chintinne, M Gao and B. Blanpain, “A dynamic model of a submerged plasma slag fuming furnace” The recently installed submerged plasma slag fuming furnace at the Metallo Belgium secondary copper smelter was discussed. In this case, the zinc-rich slag from the copper smelter is treated

1 Illustration of the synergies between the copper, lead and zinc smelters of Asarco in the USA in the 1960s (Ref. 1)

batch-wise in the new furnace to recover zinc, using pet coke for reduction and a plasma arc to deliver process heat (the plasma units provide up to 9 MW by 3 generators). Figure 2 illustrates the plasma slag fuming furnace at Metallo.

C. Frias, J. Gotor, F. Sanchez, J. Blanco, N. Moreno and E. Vera, “Advanced concept ‘Poly Metallurgical Refinery’ developed by Cobre Las Cruces” The Las Cruces copper hydrometallurgical plant in Spain commenced in 2009 producing about 70,000 tpy copper by electrowinning. Outotec was involved in the flowsheet design and technology supply. The development of a new process called ‘Poly Metallurgical Refinery’ or PMR will enable the plant to handle the Cu-Pb-Zn polymetallic materials expected to be produced from the mine when secondary copper ores are exhausted.

The process includes leaching at elevated temperatures (220°C to 230°C) in ferric sulphate solution with oxygen injection and employing silver which acts as a catalyst to improve the leaching rate. The proposed PMR process is represented in Figure 4.

P. Weber, D. Behrmann, T. Breuer and R. Margraf, “Installation of a brownfield slag reduction furnace: State of the art off-gas treatment with dry gas cleaning for SO2 capture” The recently installed side-blown furnace of Chinese design for reduction of the high-lead Ausmelt slag at Nordenham, Germany was described. The furnace, commissioned in 2018, included a matte taphole should copper levels in the high-lead slag treated (and hence in the feed to the Ausmelt) rise to the point that a copperlead-iron matte forms in the reduction furnace.

The side-blown furnace was further discussed

by X. Wu in the paper, “Application of CSC technology in non-ferrous metallurgy.” A number of applications of this version of the side-blown

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

2 Schematic illustration of the submerged plasma slag fuming furnace at the Metallo secondary copper smelter, Belgium

furnace were discussed. Several other papers at the conference discussed the role of the sideblown furnace for slag and metal recovery.

Japan process improvements

E. Shibata, “Contributions of non-ferrous smelters to metal resource circulation in Japan” In some respects, Japan has been one of the leading countries for metal recycling by treating by-product streams at the copper, lead and zinc plants. This paper summarised the approach used in Japan to ensure effective by-product recovery.

N. Okajima, T. Takuma and S. Usui, “Pb and other impurities recovery from Cu smelting residues in JX Nippon Mining and Metals” The situation at the Nippon custom copper smelters was described by Okajima et al.

The material flows between the copper smelters and the Hitachi Metal-Recycling Complex illustrated the recovery of metals from dust and other residue materials. Figure 3 illustrates the relevant material flows. With some differences, these flows are somewhat similar to the synergies illustrated in Figure 1 from the 1960s.

Y. Sakata, “Influence of minor elements in waste battery recycling” The Chigirishima lead smelter in Japan operated

by Toho Zinc is located on Chigirishima Island, located about 4 km off the coast of Takehara City, Hiroshima, Japan. The sinter strandContinued on page 8

4 | NEWS In brief…

China’s Yunnan province has announced that it will set aside 1 bn yuan (US$ 141 M) to assist businesses in stockpiling 800 kt of nonferrous metals. The scheme is part of Yunnan province’s efforts to boost its economy following the COVID-19 pandemic, with stockpiling a strategy to ease pressure on smelters hit by sliding metal prices. www.roskill.com

China’s National Bureau of Statistics said refined copper output fell 2.5% year-on-year in March to 771,000 tonnes, the lowest monthly total since May 2019 due to coronavirus-related disruption. On a daily basis, output averaged at around 24,870 t/d in the month, according to Reuters calculations, down from 25,450 t/d in January and February combined. www.reuters.com

The World Bank launched a working draft Sustainability Checklist on 14 April, with the aim of refining it in the subsequent months. It can be accessed in the ‘Sustainability blog’ area of the website. The short term (6-18 months) section covers Impact on Employment and Economic Activity, and Timeliness and Risk in relation to actions and measures. www.antaike.com

The next meeting of the GDMB Copper Expert Committee will take place from 21 - 23 October 2020 by friendly invitation of Montanwerke Brixlegg AG. Send the title of the paper and a short abstract for Presentations, which will take place on 22 October followed by a plant visit on 23 October. Hotel bookings are to be made by 9 September. www.gdmb.de

CNMC Chifeng Fubang Copper Co., Ltd. in Inner Mongolia expects to expand its copper smelting capacity to 100 kt.

It has a copper smelting capacity of 50,000 t, and plans to start upgrading projects in 2020 to increase the capacity to 100,000 tonnes, which will be completed and put into operation in 2021. www.antaike.com

China Daye Nonferrous Metals Mining Limited produced a total of approximately 28,700 tonnes of mined copper in 2019, a decrease of approximately 4.33% over the previous year. The company produced approximately 505,000 tonnes of copper cathode, an increase of 0.92% y-o-y, and 896.30 t of precious metals. www.antaike.com

www. c op p e r wor l d w i de. co m

CDA defines essential copper role The U.S. Copper Development Association issued a notice on 23 March on the usefulness of copper alloys in the battle against coronavirus. The notice asked that local, state and federal governments ensure that copper industry operations and employees are designated as ‘essential’ and not included in any ‘shelter in place’ or similar orders.

Copper alloys are needed to produce oxygen regulators for medical applications and hospitals as well as machined components for other medical equipment including ventilators.

A recent study conducted by the N ationa l In s titute s of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in the New England Journal of Medicine repor ted that the SARS CoV-2 virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, remained viable for up to 2 to 3 days on plastic and stainless steel surfaces versus only 4 hours on copper. Earlier research also reported that copper alloy surfaces rapidly inactivated a similar strain of coronavirus. www.copper.org

IWCC echoes vital nature of copper sector A similar Position Paper was issued by the IWCC at the start of April, noting that copper is essential to the economy, needed for the generation and distribution of electricity to homes, shops and industry, for example. The copper processing industry is a low-risk workplace for the spread of COVID-19. The copper semis industry has highly efficient manufacturing processes and relatively low numbers of production workers are employed

in the workplace. Therefore, existing working practices in semis plants means that social distancing is easily implemented and enforced in the workplace. Copper plants should continue to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure essential services continue uninterrupted. Ports, borders and other transport infrastructure should be kept open for essential industrial deliveries, including copper products.

Peru battles against coronavirus impact World No. 2 copper producer Peru had reported over 116,000 cases of coronavirus, the second-highest tally in Latin America, leaving millions without jobs. The central bank said the economy had been severely affected temporarily. The Peruvian Government has extended its declaration of a National Emergency until 30 June. Prime Minister Vicente Zeballos said the lockdown would continue with flexibility. Peru’s government has announced a massive economic stimulus package worth 90 billion soles (US$ 26.41 billion), around 12% of gross domestic product, to support citizens and the key mining sector. www.reuters.com

Cerro Verde update from FCX

Freeport-McMoRan’s Cerro Verde Mine is conducting limited operations in accordance with the government quarantine order and is completing actions to provide additional onsite facilities and enhanced health protocols to enable production to increase while maintaining www.coppercouncil.org compliance. From 1-23 April 2020, Cerro Verde’s concentrator operated approximately one-third of planned Smelting capacity curbs advocated by Chinalco atrates.

Freeport-McMoRan owns Structural contradictions in China’s million tonnes per year in 2019, 53.56% of Cerro Verde, which copper smelting sector have while investment in the sector produced 1.0 billion pounds of copper intensified overcapacity woes, grew 40.9%. Production of refined and 29 Mlb of molybdenum in 2019. according to Yu Dehui, Chinalco’s copper for the year was 9.78 Mt, www.fcx.com General Manager and member of the pointing to a capacity utilisation National Committee of the Chinese rate of just 77%, according to Los Pelambres People’s Political Consultative Yu. The capacity is expected to Conference, who spoke to China expand to 14.22 Mt per year in Expansion on C&M Nonferrous Metals News on 22 2021, widening the gap. China’s Antofagasta Minerals SA suspended May. Overcapacity has heightened copper concentrate self-sufficiency the Los Pelambres Expansion project, reliance on foreign ore and boosted rate has now fallen to 22.8% in referred to in Chile as the INCO environmental pressure.

2019, from a level of 43.25% in project, on 2 April. The action will Blind expansion of copper smelting 2000. Yu also mentioned sulphuric be periodically reviewed and will capacity in China should now be acid overcapacity woes, which in principle apply for an estimated strictly curbed to facilitate high- sparked the risks of storage maximum period of 120 days. In quality development of the copper filling up amid the ongoing COVID- most cases this does not imply the contract will be terminated. “This industry. China’s domestic refined 19 outbreak. is a temporary suspension as it is copper capacity reached 12.59 www.metal.com not possible to continue with the construction of the project as originally WBMS reports surplus in first three months planned and is only for the duration of The copper market recorded a surplus in the consumption calculation for the emergency,” explained Francisco of 188 kt in January to March 2020 unreported stock changes, particularly Walther, Vice President of Projects which follows a deficit of 268 kt in the in the Chinese government stockpile. at Antofagasta Minerals. The decision whole of 2019. Reported stocks rose World mine production in the makes it possible to strengthen during January, February and March quarter was up 8 per cent to general hygiene and social isolation to close 316 kt higher than at the end 5.24 Mt year-on-year. Global measures, thus protecting the health of December 2019. This increase refined production for January to of both workers and communities. includes net deliveries of 76.5 kt into March 2020 rose 8.1 % to 5.93 Antofagasta said it wants to maintain the LME warehouses and Comex Mt comparatively, with significant a contractual relationship with stocks dropped by 9 kt. Shanghai increases recorded in China (up 243 most of the contractor companies stocks rose by 240 kt during January kt) and in Chile (up 61 kt). after the emergency. www.antofagasta.co.uk and March. No allowance is made www.world-bureau.com Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

NEWS | 5

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

KCC delays acid plant commissioning

Smelter declares force majeure Guangxi Nanguo Copper Smelter, with production capacity of 300,000 tonnes per year, was the first in China to declare force majeure on deliveries of copper concentrate (on 7 February) following the coronavirus epidemic. Low demand for sulphuric acid due to factory closures including those in Hubei meant copper smelters reduced

production by more than 15% in February from the previous month, Chinese research house Antaike said. Nanguo was on maintenance in January and decided to ask for deliveries to be suspended due to the virus, a lack of manpower and transportation problems. Guangxi Nanguo only started up its smelter in 2019.

Progress towards commissioning of a sulphuric acid, sulphur dioxide production and steam turbine generator project at Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) in DR Congo by Katanga Mining has been delayed as a result of the inability to mobilise necessary commissioning experts to site due to travel and social distancing restrictions imposed as a www.reuters.com result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The acid plant is now expected to be commissioned in the second Notes regarding the force majeure issue half of 2020, rather than in the first Use of force majeure notices in the event must be the only one half of 2020. this crisis will likely lead to many affecting contractual performance www.katangamining.com potential disputes over who must (unless clearly stated otherwise). bear the losses. A force majeure In other words, but for coronavirus, clause usually requires performance a party must have been willing and ICSG copper prices of contractual obligations to be able to perform. and stock movements prevented, impeded, hindered It is critically important that you According to ICSG data for January or delayed. Prevent requires understand why you cannot supply 2020 issued on 24 April, based on that the obstacle to perform is and that you document and collect the average of estimates provided insurmountable, for example that the evidence of those reasons. If you by independent consultants, China’s it is no longer physically possible receive a force majeure declaration bonded stocks are thought to have or legally permissible to perform from your supplier, ask for details increased by about 60,000 t in January the contract. Impede, hinder and about how exactly the supplier is 2020 compared to the year-end 2019 delay can be construed more affected by Covid-19 (and document level. Bonded stocks increased by broadly and do not require the those details) before responding. around 22,000 t in January 2019. As affected party to prove impossibility www.hoganlovells.com of the end of March 2020, copper to perform. To rely on the clause, www.cips.org stocks held at the major metal exchanges (LME, COMEX, SHFE) Coronavirus stalls global trade totalled 615,040 t, an increase of 312,653 t (103%) from stocks held The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed developed. The pandemic has shown at the end of December 2019. the lack of risk management, resilience it needs to be substantially reworked Stocks were up at the LME (+53%) and agility in supply chains. Recent and rebuilt. Applying diverse sourcing and SHFE (+194%) and down at analysis in Supply Management, the strategies and spreading the risk, COMEX (-13%). official publication of The Chartered avoiding single-source or region The average LME cash price for Institute of Procurement & Supply dependence, is a key lesson from March 2020 was US$ 5,178.68 /t, (CIPS) in the UK, offers some the pandemic. This basically entails down 9% from the February average guidance on solutions. In April more decentralisation, regionalisation of US$ 5,686.45 /t. The 2020 high 2020, Paul Simpson observed how and localisation, as well as onshoring. and low copper prices through the fragile our cost-driven, just-in-time As this crisis shows, it would pay end of March were US$ 6,300.50 /t processes are. After the 2007-8 companies to look at the really big (on 16th January) and US$ 4,617.50 /t economic crises, a global supply things that don’t happen very often (on 23 March), respectively, and the chain that is interconnected, intricate and run scenarios for those. year average was US$ 5,636.60 /t and sometimes unfathomable has www.cips.org (6% below the 2019 annual average). www.icsg.org

The Chinese metals market in April

Four countries receive duty bill from India

The Executive Summary of Antaike’s Copper & Copper Fabrication Monthly No.280 distributed on 10 May said that in April, domestic refined copper production increased slightly on a month-on-month basis, and downstream demand gradually returned to normal. Orders of copper semis enterprises were significantly improved, so the surplus of refined copper was narrowed.

Zijin (Huichun), Yunnan Tin, Yuguang Gold & Lead, and ZTS Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. had maintenance plans, which affected copper cathode.

In addition, the epidemic in South America and Africa spread severely in Mid-late March. Major copper

India has imposed countervailing duties on imports from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam ranging from 2.47% to 10.27% for five years. An earlier investigation by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies showed that copper wire imported from the above four countries was exported to India at subsidised prices, hurting domestic companies. DGTR also proposed a countervailing duty on imports of continuous casting copper wires from the above four countries. www.antaike.com

resource countries in the world adopted strict blockade measures, which led to the tight supply of copper concentrate. Turnover days of copper concentrate in domestic smelters and inventory in ports generally declined, affecting production of some enterprises.

The shipping schedule means more negative impact on domestic smelting production is expected in May. However, the sales difficulty of sulphuric acid and the overstock of refined copper has been better alleviated, and domestic copper cathode production showed a small increase in April. www.antaike.com

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

In brief…

The latest Savant Global Copper Smelting Index has shown less activity in March but signs of recovery in China towards the month end. The index, which uses satellite data to monitor up to 90 per cent of global copper smelting capacity, put the March average at 86.7, down from February’s 91.5 level. www.mining-journal.com

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organisation working with leaders in government, the private sector and civil society to drive toward achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which calls for universal access to sustainable energy by 2030, and the Paris Agreement to limit climate warming to below 2° Celsius. www.seforall.org

Asia and Europe are the first and second largest destination of China’s copper semis exports. Exports to Asia and Europe accounted for 68.5% (17% in Japan and South Korea) and 15% of the total in 2019 respectively. Among them, the main products exported to Europe are copper and copper alloy tubes and tube fittings. www.antaike.com

Polycab India (PIL) has signed an agreement with Trafigura, Singapore, to acquire its 50% JV stake in Ryker Base Pvt Ltd in Gujarat, making Ryker a wholly owned subsidiary of PIL. Ryker is involved in manufacturing of copper wire rods with a total annual capacity of 225,000 tpy and commenced its commercial production in FY20. www.business-standard.com

COMET (the Coalition on Materials Emissions Transparency) is an alliance between MIT’s Sustainable Supply Chains initiative, the Columbia Center for Sustainable Investment, Rocky Mountain Institute, and the Colorado School of Mines. It aims to create a universal greenhouse gas (GHG) calculation framework for the mineral and industrial supply chains. www.rmi.org

IWCC Chairman, Dr Erwin Mayr, was recently interviewed by Cu2 Consulting on the copper industry, the impact of COVID-19 and the work of the IWCC. The interview between Cu2 Consulting and the IWCC Chairman was published on 20 April 2020 in the monthly report Copper Fabricators Competitive Monitor (CFCM). www.cu2consulting.com

6 | SPOTLIGHT – COVID-19

www. c op p e r wor l d w i de. co m

Pandemic affects 2020 copper usage forecast The latest ICSG Insight into the ‘Global Impact of COVID-19 Related Lockdowns on Industrial Uses of Copper and Recycling’ released in May says the first half of 2020 will be remembered by a strong deterioration in the downstream demand for copper.

Copper semis

Global GDP is expected to contract 3% after a forecast of growth over 3% in January by Intergovernmental organisations. The impact on copper demand only in Q1 2020 is revealed in the fall in use of copper wire rod, which represented 56% of all copper end uses worldwide in 2019.

In Q1 2020 the Asia Pacific region was the most affected, with a 25% fall in sales of wire and cable. In the European Region and MENA, sales fell 6% in Q1, but Q2 expectations are pointing to a 2 digit annual contraction. In North America the first quarter was good with wire rod demand up 4%, but expectations were not so good for Q2.

In Latin America demand fell 15% in Q1 via commodity price adjustments.

China’s automobile production fell 45% y-o-y in Q1 2020, whilst electric grid investment fell 27%, air conditioner output fell 28%, and refrigerator output fell 20% respectively. In the period 1-10 May 2020, South Korean exports fell 46% y-o-y, and imports fell 37%. Japanese

imports of scrap fell 36%, and less fabricated copper products were exported in Malaysia, Russia and Spain in the first quarter. There was a contraction of 29% in Italian industrial production in Q1, followed by France (-16%), Germany (-14%) and Spain (-13%), with European copper use expected to fall in Q2 2020.

Exports of fabricated copper and alloys fell in Q1 in Belgium, Poland and Germany. In the US, housing starts fell 9% in Q1 and in Q2 the fall might be in 2 digits, whilst household spending in transport fell 33% in Q1.

Other streams

Copper smelters out of mining countries are facing a massive shortage of concentrates in H1 2020. That eventually can be solved in part if concentrate stocks in South America are exported. Total y-o-y Q1 exports of copper concentrates fell from Chile (-8%), Peru (-10%), from Australia (-8%) and Brazil (-16%). Ports in Peru closed all of April, and not all mines operated at low capacity for stocks.

Global trade of copper scrap fell 400 kt in Q1, but scrap availability fell 550 kt as lower prices hit smelter and fabricator demand. Traders of recycled copper, scrap and copper waste left the market when prices fell. Imports of copper scrap to China fell by 37% in Q1 on ports closures,

with Germany’s imports down 16%, and a 36% fall in Japan and Malaysia.

Refined copper output produced from concentrates is sustaining the supply of refined copper in H1 2020. It will be difficult for global copper use to return to the 29.9 Mt reported in 2019. Preliminary estimates for the drop in 2020 global end use of copper are between -1,4 Mt and -2.7 Mt in the less optimistic scenario.

Upstream

The ICSG Secretariat Briefing Paper - No 18 (Insight) was released on 21 May entitled ‘The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on World Copper Supply’. The April meetings of the ICSG were cancelled, so the spring forecast was deferred. The Insight is an update on the copper supply and demand impact and on ICSG’s last forecast made in October 2019. In summary, global mine production in 2020 is likely to be about 950,000 tonnes copper lower than the ICSG forecast in October 2019. World output is now expected to decline by about 3% compared to 2019. Global refined output will be approximately 1.1 Mt lower than the Group forecast in October. Consequently, world refined production is now expected to remain unchanged for the second consecutive year. www.icsg.org

Covid-19 impact webinars from CRU CRU Events published a series of pandemic webinars, aimed primarily at would-be World Copper Conference 2021 attendees, from April to early May. Chief Economist Jumana Saleheen delivered ‘Global pandemic triggers global recession’ on 6 April, then Principal Analyst Erik Heimlich presented on ‘Developments in copper supply’ on 23 April, before Director of Copper Research and Strategy Vanessa Davidson concluded with ‘Copper market outlook’ on 7 May: Jumana’s global macro-economic forecast observed that, as one third of the world’s population were put in lockdown in March, a sharp fall in demand and supply chain disruption ensued. Whilst China’s PMI has bounced back rapidly, China will not see demand in Q2 from the rest of the world (RoW). The US should see positive growth

by Q4 of 2020, but the EU is forecast to take longer still to recover.

The pandemic has halted a 126-month record US economic expansion, after around 33 states issued ‘shelter-in-place’ orders in March. A -0.2% change in GDP is forecast for 2020. The Eurozone was already vulnerable, and a -5.2% GDP contribution is forecast for Q2. In global automotive production, 2020 will see a 10 per cent fall, in a third year of decline. However (from 3rd Webinar), global copper demand from EV’s will rise from 417 kt in 2020 to 1.1 Mt

in 2025, and 2.5 Mt in 2030. Around 75% of this copper is in the vehicles.

Erik’s presentation calculated a 22.2% fall in Chinese refined copper consumption in Q1, whilst the RoW is forecast to see an 11.9% fall in Q2. The supply of copper scrap has declined as prices have fallen, increasing demand for primary copper. As Covid-19 has limited scrap recycling rates (from 3rd Webinar), and imports are blocked, a 20 per cent fall in Chinese scrap use in refined production and semis is forecast this year (RoW 11%).

Mining has allowed to continue in most lockdown countries except Mexico. Peru imposed an early lockdown, but this has impeded mining activity. As at 5 May (from 3rd Webinar), around 333 kt impact from mine disruptions, notably in Peru (c. 105 kt), had occurred since mid-March, and around 190 kt impact on smelter output, mainly due to the effect of smelter acid storage and shipping restrictions. Whilst countries like Australia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia had suffered only minor disruptions in the period, the estimated global production losses due to Covid-19 will add 3-4.5% of extra mine output disruptions in all of 2020, representing 600 kt in total. Project developments being put in stand-by will affect future supply.

Vanessa’s webinar described the havoc caused

by Covid-19. The typical seasonal pattern

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

whereby stocks are accumulated in the first few months of the year and then destocked is holding. Chinese cathode import premiums have already recovered to exceed 2019 levels.

RoW refined copper demand is set to fall by 5.5% in 2020. Chinese demand fell by 22.2% in the first quarter, leading to an estimated annual 5% drop in 2020.

Global refined copper consumption for 2020 is now thought to be 22 Mt, a 1.8 Mt reduction from CRU’s January estimates.

Demand to 2025 will be lowered enough by the after effects of the pandemic to remove the possibility of supply deficits in the mid2020s. India is forecast to achieve robust consumption growth of at least 10% per annum from 2021 to 2024, whilst ASEAN will see 4% annual growth in the period.

Chinese smelters remain vulnerable to mine closures in other parts of the world, as mining majors are reducing 2020 capex and ongoing projects are being delayed.

Around 159 kt of price-related cutbacks to mine output have also been announced as at 5 May, and more are expected in H2, rising to an overall 340 - 445 kt level. A 5% reduction in global mine output is expected for 2020, and a 3% reduction in refined production (China -2.5%). There is a 700 kt drop to the 2024 output forecast. Whilst an 850 kt surplus of cathode is forecast for 2020, prices are likely to remain around US$ 5,000 per tonne. www.events.crugroup.com

NEWS | 7

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

Metallo acquired by Aurubis Group With the formal closing of the transaction on 29 May, Metallo is being fully consolidated into the Aurubis Group as of 1 June 2020 for a purchase price of EUR 380 million. The acquisition represents an important step in the implementation of Aurubis’ multimetal strategy and toward its goal to become one of the most efficient and sustainable smelter networks in the world.

The EU competition authorities issued their unconditional approval of the acquisition on 4 May. The name Metallo, an established name on the recycling market, will be retained.

With the Metallo acquisition, the

The Metallo site in Beerse, Belgium.

Aurubis Group is gaining another company in Belgium (Beerse with about 450 employees) in addition to Olen, as well as a company in Spain for the first time (Berango in the province of Biscay with about 90 employees).

Roland Harings, Aurubis AG E xe c u t i ve B o a rd C h a i r m a n , explained: “We will integrate the Metallo production sites to form an optimised production network of our plants. This will lead to more than 1 million tonnes of recycling capacity for secondary material.”

Dirk Vandenberghe, CEO and Director of Metallo, added: “Metallo specialises in processing recycling materials with low metal contents, with a focus on tin, lead, nickel, zinc, and copper. We have a ‘zero waste’ approach - even as the compositions of the input materials become increasingly complex. As

Latest ICSG market data released According to ICSG data for February 2020 issued on 25 May, world mine production increased by about 2% in the first two months of 2020, with concentrate production increasing by 1% and solvent extractionelectrowinning (SX-EW) increasing by 5.8%. Mine production in Chile increased by 4%, recovering from production constraints in early 2019.

Chilean SX-EW output increased by 8%. Production in Peru declined by 4% mainly due to operational issues and adverse weather affecting few major mines.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), production increased by 5% as production from ramp-up mines more than offset temporary closure of a major mine in December 2019. Official data indicates that Chinese copper mine production declined by 12% mainly due to temporary suspension of some mines related to COVID-19 restrictions.

In Indonesia, production grew by 14% as output levels are improving from the transition of the country’s major two copper mines to different ore zones in 2019. Production in Panama was higher as the country only started producing copper in March 2019.

Preliminary data indicates that world refined copper production increased by about 0.6% in the

Roland Harings (left) is CEO of Aurubis AG Dirk Vandenberghe is CEO of Metallo

part of Aurubis, we want to continue processing all of the input materials into valuable products, making an important sustainability contribution as one company.” www.aurubis.com

JCCL latest

first two months of 2020 with primary production (electrolytic and electrowinning) up by 2% and secondary production (from scrap) down by 6%. Chilean electrolytic refined output increased by a significant 30% as in the comparative month of 2019 production was negatively affected by temporary smelter shutdowns whilst undergoing upgrades to comply with new environmental regulations. Total Chilean refined production (including EW) increased by 14.5%.

Chinese refined production was negatively impacted by temporary shutdowns related to COVID-19 restrictions, tight scrap supply and acid market constraints. In Africa, production in the DRC was up 5% but production in Zambia declined by about 20% due to operational issues and temporary shutdowns. Japanese refined production increased by 7% mainly recovering from maintenance in the same period of 2019.

Preliminary data indicates that world apparent refined copper usage declined by about 2% in the first two months of 2020. Chinese apparent usage declined by 4% mainly as a consequence of lower Chinese refinery output as net refined copper imports increased by 9%. Real Chinese industrial usage was negatively impacted by COVID-

19 related production suspensions at semis fabricators. Among other major copper users, refined usage declined by 2% in Japan and remained essentially unchanged in the EU and in the United States. The preliminary world refined copper balance in the first two months of 2020 indicates 130,000 t surplus.

In developing its global market balance, ICSG uses an apparent demand calculation for China that does not take into account changes in unreported stocks. The Refined World Balance Adjusted for Chinese Bonded Stock Changes, based on an average estimate of changes in unreported inventories provided by three consultants with expertise in China’s copper market, indicated a market surplus of about 220,000 t.

As of the end of April, copper stocks held at the major metal exchanges (LME, COMEX, SHFE) totalled 549,261 t, an increase of 246,874 t (82%) from stocks held at the end of December 2019.

Stocks were up at the LME (+74%), SHFE (+109%) and COMEX (14%) respectively. The ICSG Copper Bulletin is available for sale (annual s ub sc r ip tio n EU R 550 / EU R 850 for orders originating from/ outside institutions based in ICSG member countries).

According to the Q1 2020 Report issued by Jiangxi Copper Co., Ltd. (JCCL), the quarterly operating revenue was 56.21 bn yuan and increased by 15.04% y-o-y.

The Group’s main production and operation goal is to produce 1.65 mt of copper cathode, 77 tonnes of gold, 1,025 t of silver, 4.788 Mt of sulphuric acid, 207,500 t of copper in concentrates, and 1.63 Mt of copper rods/wires, etc.

During the reporting period, Ph a s e I I of t h e n ew l y b u il t 350,000 tpy copper rod project of Jiangxi Copper (Guangzhou) C o p p e r P ro d u c t s C o m p a ny Limited has been successfully put into operation. The construction of the 220,000 tpy copper rod production line project of Jiangxi Copper North China (Tianjin) Copper Co., Ltd has started, a nd the indu s tr i a l l ayou t of the company in the Bohai Rim region has fur ther improved.

The construction of the pha se III 15,0 0 0 tonne s per year lithium-electric copper foil production line of the Jiangxi JCC Yates Copper Foil Company Limited has initiated, by which the company has taken a new step into the high-end copper processing products field.

www.icsg.org

www.antaike.com

demand might increase by 4.4% to 23.625 Mt. In the EU-28, demand for refined copper in 2019 was 2.967 Mt, down 8% compared with 2018.

A further decrease of 6.4% is now forecast for 2020 for this region.

However, in 2021, demand might increase by 5.4% to 2.927 Mt. For China, in 2019 the IWCC estimates reported (or real) demand for refined

copper up 2.8% to 12.209 Mt. For 2020, the forecasts currently suggest reported demand of refined copper in China might decrease by 2.8% to 11.87 Mt. For 2021, reported demand is expected to increase to 12.175 Mt. Present economic uncertainty means these forecasts have wider tolerances than usual.

IWCC short-term forecasts for copper Amid the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic disruption, the International Wrought Copper Council (IWCC) has completed its regular six-monthly review of the copper market and has finalised its forecasts (see also IWCC item on Page 4). Using publicly available information and ICSG input, the supply side data shows that refined copper production in 2019 was 23.47

Mt. For 2020, it is forecast to be 22.91 Mt and might be 24.30 Mt in 2021.

The demand side forecasts were prepared by the IWCC. Global reported refined copper demand in 2019 was 23.915 million tonnes, up 25 kt on that for 2018. For 2020 the forecasts suggest that refined copper demand might be 22.625 Mt, a decrease of 5.4%. For 2021,

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

www.coppercouncil.org

8 | 21ST CENTURY SMELTING

www. c op p e r wor l dw i de. co m

Table 1. The typical range of metal assays in the dust at the Dongying smelter, China

Element

Content, wt. %

Element

Content, wt.%

Cu Pb Zn Fe Ag Au

3-5 27-41 4-6 2 520 g/t 5-10 g/t

Bi As S SiO2 CaO

2-5 3-6 8-10 2-4 1.5-2

K.Miwa, E. Yamaguchi and S. Satoh, “Tin treatment in Kosaka lead smelting” The Kosaka smelter 3 Copper and lead synergies between the Nippon custom copper smelters and the Hitachi Metal-Recycling located in northern Complex (HMC) in Japan Japan - with operations at that site dating back over 100 years, installed an Ausmelt TSL plant in 2008 to handle copper and e-scrap recycled feeds; the existing flash furnace, which had been commissioned in 1967 replacing older smelting technology, was closed.

The former flash furnace treated complex copperlead concentrates from the local mining area.

A lead refinery is now included in the Kosaka flowsheet to handle lead dust from the Ausmelt plant, as well as zinc plant residues high in Pb. A new tin circuit was also installed to handle higher tin loads. These changes have allowed the plant to now treat a wide variety of feed materials.

China trials results

4 General arrangement of the planned PMR process at Cobre Las Cruces Continued from page 3

blast furnace plant including a Betts refinery commenced operations in 1951; previously a small copper smelter was operated. The lead smelter now produces some 95,000 tpy lead and has been re-purposed to also treat substantial quantities of scrap batteries. The scrap batteries are treated in a cupola shaft furnace - a plant resembling a blast furnace. The author describes the scrap battery plant which also produces substantial quantities of tin and other byproducts such as copper.

Unbenannt-1 1

W. Cui, M. Chen and B. Zhao, “Pyrometallurgical recovery of valuable metals from flue dusts of copper smelter through lead alloy” Many, or possibly most copper smelters handle concentrates containing various levels of minor elements such, as Pb, Zn, Bi, As, etc.

These elements typically enter the smelter dust which is then removed from the circuit to control levels in copper anodes and for metal recovery. In this paper, the authors describe testwork for the treatment of dust by a combination of hydrometallurgicalpyrometallurgical steps at the Dongying smelter in China. The typical range of metal assays in the dust examined is given in Table 1.

It was reported that plant trials of the proposed approach have been carried out.

Y. Yang, S. Song, H.Tang, L. Wang, W. Sun and Y. Hu, “Purification and comprehensive recovery metal values from zinc hydrometallurgical solution”

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

Copper must be removed from zinc electrolyte prior to electrowinning to very low levels for correct operation of the tankhouse (c. 0.03 mg Cu/l). Traditionally, copper is cemented using Zn dust for this purpose. This paper described the use of organic agents (that were not specifically identified) to replace the more expensive zinc. It was found that copper recovery to a copper precipitate was very good.

E.Jak, M.Shevchenko, D. Shishin, T.Hidayat and P.C.Hayes, “Characterization of phase equilibria and thermodynamics with integrated experimental and modelling approach for complex lead primary and recycling processing” The value of thermodynamic modelling of the processes and phases in complex copperlead-zinc metallurgy is important from the perspective of both theoretical and practical perspectives. This paper presented a number of diagrams providing data, for example, showing distribution coefficients for a large number of minor elements in Cu-Pb-Fe mattes and related slags. Several phase diagrams were also presented to illustrate the flexibility of these tools which allow the data to be validated, indicate gaps and to study the impact of alternative processing and plant conditions to help optimise operations in a very short space of time.

For non-TMS Members, Pb-Zn 2020 Symposium Proceedings are available via the TMS website below for US$ 219 in eBook form. www.tms.org/tms2020/programming References 1. A.J. Phillips, The World’s Most Complex Metallurgy (Copper, lead and Zinc), The 1962 Extractive Metallurgy Lecture, Trans. AIME, Vol. 224, pp. 657-668.

Author: Phillip Mackey

20.07.2017 11:05:21

MANAGERIAL REVIEW | 9

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

Codelco smelters beat DS 28 target The Codelco Shareholders Meeting on 22 April was led by the Ministers of Finance and Mining, Ignacio Briones and Baldo Prokurica, in which they analysed the results and the progress of the company presented by Juan Benavides, President of the Board of Directors, and Octavio Araneda, Executive President of the copper company.

The main indicators and milestones of the previous year included the start of operations of Chuquicamata Subterranea, the annual production of 1,588,000 tonnes, surpluses of US $ 1,340 million, in addition to historical accident rates. The emission capture rates obtained by the Chuquicamata, Potrerillos, Ventanas and Caletones smelters were also assessed, and were all over the 95% required

by DS 28.

The state company’s cash position was close to 3 billion dollars, together with an adequate debt maturity profile. On the other hand, the administration deepened the Strategic Transformation Plan, launched at the end of last year, with which it seeks to increase resources to the treasury by US$ 1 bn from 2021 and generate savings of US$ 8 bn in the portfolio of investments to 2028.

Interviewed subsequently by Mining Magazine on 29 April, Executive President Octavio Araneda said “Increasing productivity was essential to ensure the sustainability of the company in the long-term.” Since 2014, productivity measured in tonnes of fine copper produced per worker has increased 58.8% to 48.9 tonnes from 30.8 t, although this missed

Octavio Araneda is Executive President of Codelco. Photo: Codelco

the company’s target of 51.2 t due to lower production due to weather factors, strikes and concentrator maintenance. Codelco’s C+ programme seeks to empower workers.

Overall it has reduced its headcount by more than 15% since 2015 and 10% since 2018 to 16,194 workers. www.miningmagazine.com www.codelco.com

Cobre Panama hit for First Quantum First Quantum Minerals reported for the three months ended 31 March 2020 on 27 April.

Philip Pascall, Chairman and CEO, said: “We have reduced our operating costs and capital spending to deal with the current environment.”

The 195,285 tonnes of total copper production was up 43% y-o-y, including a contribution of 56,240 t from Cobre Panama, whose production was impacted initially by unplanned downtime on the crushing circuits, which was resolved, followed by the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.

On 6 April 2020, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Panama (MINSA) ordered the temporary suspension of labour activities at the Cobre Panama operation, and First Quantum decided to place it into preservation and safe maintenance from 7 April until MINSA are satisfied that the quarantine conditions are appropriate. Production guidance for 2020 has been reduced for copper by 75,000 t to 755,000 - 805,000 t and gold by 30,000 ounces to 250,000 - 270,000 ounces as a result of a reduction in production expectations at Cobre Panama.

It is hoped to commence the restart of operations by the end of May. Normal production levels would be expected to return in late June 2020 to early July 2020.

Elsewhere, Kansanshi smelter processed 329,946 dry tonnes of copper concentrate, produced 80,280 t of copper anode and 315,000 t of sulphuric acid in the quarter. www.first-quantum.com

Antofagasta gives Q1 production report

CEO Iván Arriagada has led Antofagasta plc since April 2016

According to Antofagasta plc CEO, Iván Arriagada: “Antofagasta implemented multiple measures to prevent the spread of infection across our operations and launched a US$ 6 million fund to support the communities we work in.” Announced on 22 April, the Q1 2020 copper production was 194,000 tonnes, 2.9% higher y-o-y. Due to the precautionary health measures taken (about two-thirds of the workforce on-site), Antofagasta now expects copper production to be towards the lower end of the original 725-755,000 t guidance range, assuming mining operations are not

required to shut down temporarily. Capital expenditure for the year is now expected to be less than US$ 1.3 billion due to the temporary suspension of the Los Pelambres Expansion project, the deferral of sustaining and other growth capital expenditure, lower mine development and a weaker Chilean peso.

Some work is continuing on the desalination plant and the camp infrastructure.

A revised project schedule and cost estimate is expected to be available once the suspension period concludes. www.antofagasta.co.uk

BHP gives balanced nine-month summary The BHP operational review for the nine months ended 31 March 2020 was issued on 21 April.

Mike Henry, BHP Chief Executive Officer, declared: “Our priorities are the continued safety of our people, continuing reliable operations and supporting our customers, suppliers and communities in these challenging times.” Total copper production increased by five per cent to 1,310 kt. Guidance for Antamina is under review due to impacts from COVID-19. Escondida copper production increased by five per cent to 891 kt, supported by record average concentrator throughput of 367 ktpd, which offset expected grade decline. Performance was achieved

despite Escondida operating with a reduced headcount on site during March 2020. Guidance for the 2020 financial year remains unchanged at between 1,160 and 1,230 kt, reflecting lower volumes at Olympic Dam. The physical replacement of the Olympic Dam refinery crane and commissioning planned for commencement in the March 2020 quarter has been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, and completion is now expected by the end of the 2020 calendar year.

Pampa Norte copper production increased by nine per cent to 188 kt, with record ore stacked at Spence in the nine months to March 2020.

Guidance for FY 2020 remains unchanged at Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

between 230 and 250 kt, including expected grade decline of c.10 per cent. The Spence Growth Option is continuing to progress, first production is potentially a few months later than December 2020 as a result of the measures taken to facilitate social distancing protocols, but still due in FY 2021. During March 2020, Antamina operated with a reduced workforce, then temporarily suspended operations from 14 April. The Peruvian state of emergency has been extended until 10 May 2020, so timing on resuming operations at Antamina is still uncertain. www.bhp.com

10 | MANAGERIAL REVIEW

www. c op p e r wor l d w i de. co m

Freeport-McMoRan revises operating plans Along with its first quarter announcement on 24 April, FCX assessed its near-term operating plans, and looks to significantly reduce all elements of costs and capital spending and adjust mine plans and corresponding mining and milling rates to maximise cash flow at lower prices.

Richard C. Adkerson, President and Chief Executive Officer, advised: “I am confident that we will overcome the current challenges and ‘prove our mettle’ as we have effectively done in previous periods of economic weakness.”

The 2020 mining and milling rates for North America have been reduced by approximately 20 percent, resulting in

Richard C. Adkerson is in his 17th year as President and CEO of FCX

a projected 12 percent decline in North America copper sales. FCX has also deferred approximately US$ 0.3 billion in capital projects from 2020 to future periods for the

North America copper mines. The initial phase of the Lone Star copper leach project will still be completed, with first production expected during H2 of 2020.

As a result of disruptions to work and travel schedules of international contractors and current limitations on access to the proposed physical site in Gresik, Indonesia associated with COVID-19 mitigation measures, PT-FI has notified the Indonesian government of delays in achieving the Indonesian Smelter completion timeline of December 2023. PT-FI is currently discussing with the Indonesian government a deferred schedule for the project as well as other alternatives. www.fcx.com

A limiting year for Glencore Glencore published its Annual Report for 2019 on 5 March. Own sourced copper production of 1,371,200 t was 82,500 t (6%) lower than in 2018.

Approximately half of this (40,800 t) related to the African Copper assets, with Katanga’s rampup (+82,100 t) partially offsetting Mutanda scaling down and placement into temporary care and maintenance and Mopani’s extensive smelter refurbishment shutdown. Collahuasi’s attributable copper production of 248,800 t, and Antamina’s 151,400 t, were in line with 2018.

Own-sourced Australian copper production of 194,600 t was 15,800 t (8%) lower than in 2018, mainly relating to weather-related disruptions in Q1. Custom metallurgical assets production

of 432,900 t was in line with 2018. Copper anode production of 510,700 t was 31,400 t (7%) higher than in 2018, mainly reflecting Altonorte’s plant turnaround in the base period.

African own-sourced copper production of 369,900 t was 40,800 t (10%) lower than in 2018, reflecting Mutanda scaling down before entering temporary care and maintenance (from November) and Mopani’s comprehensive smelter refurbishment during H2, partially offset by Katanga’s continued ramp-up to 235,000 t (from 152,400 t).

CEO Ivan Glasenberg said: “Clearly in the shorter term, we are closely watching coronavirus developments and potential

Las Bambas concerns for MMG Reported on 23 April, the first quarter copper production for MMG Limited of 91,911 tonnes was 24% below the prior period, largely due to social and operating disruptions at Las Gao Xiaoyu is CEO and Executive Director of MMG Limited Bambas. Production levels were impacted in January and February as a result of repairs to the overland ore conveyor, whilst blockades along Peru’s southern road corridor temporarily restricted both inbound and outbound logistics between 27 January and 8 February. Then a nationwide State of

Emergency was first declared on 15 March in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result of the State of Emergency and other health restrictions, the transport of concentrates has been suspended. The Las Bambas mine stockpile was approximately 45,000 tonnes at 31 March.

Kinsevere (DRC) copper cathode production of 18,207 tonnes was in line with plan for the first quarter and 45% above the comparative period in 2019, reflecting a shift back to mining at the Central pit. The report, ratified by CEO Gao Xiaoyu, says: “MMG continues to proactively respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, and to date no COVID-19 cases have been identified at any MMG operation.”

scenario impacts on global growth and markets and what adjustments, if any, are appropriate in our business planning.” www.glencore.com

Good 2019 output for KGHM

copper. Mr. German Larrea, Chairman of the Board, said: “Our growth program in Mexico and Peru aims to achieve 1.5 million tons of copper by 2028.” Southern Copper has a portfolio of US$ 2.8 bn approved projects in Peru and has already invested US$ 1.6 bn. The pipeline of Michiquillay (US$ 2.5 bn) and Los Chancas (US$ 2.8 bn) projects would bring its total investment in Peru to US$ 8.1 billion.

The KGHM Management Board, led by its President Marcin Chludziński, published its Annual Report for 2019 on 17 March. Production of payable copper by the KGHM Group (reflecting the 55% interest in Sierra Gorda) amounted to 702 kt, an 11% y-o-y increase due to KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. having higher availability of production lines, including that of the concentrate roasting installation, and to Sierra Gorda S.C.M. as a result of higher extraction and processing of higher coppergrade ore. Geological conditions (lower copper content in ore mined in the Sudbury Basin and in the Franke mine) were the main reasons for a decrease in production by KGHM INTERNATIONAL LTD. The metallurgical plants located in Głogów comprise two copper concentrate smelting lines based on the one-stage smelting of concentrate in a flash furnace directly into blister copper. Apart from electrolytic copper (448.1 kt in 2019), the Głogów Copper Smelter and Refinery produces crude lead, silver, gold and sulphuric acid (over 500 kt in 2019). The copper smelter and refinery located in Legnica, based on shaft furnace technology, produced 117.5 kt of electrolytic copper and 100 kt of sulphuric acid in 2019.

www.southerncoppercorp.com

www.kghm.com

www.mmg.com

Milestone for Southern Copper output Southern Copper Corporation’s fourth quarter and 2019 results were released on 25 February.

The annual total production was up 12.5% y-o-y to a milestone 1,019,868 tons. This was principally due to higher copper production at Toquepala mine (258 kt) from the successful ramping up of the new concentrator, and Buenavista mine (+5.8%) as result of operating improvements at its SX-EW plants (+12.2%).

The overall smelter output was 595,173 tons

The Altonorte Smelter acid plant can produce in excess of 1.1 Mtpy

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

MANAGERIAL REVIEW | 11

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

Katanga first quarter performance Reporting for the first quarter on 22 April, Katanga Mining Limited saw its copper cathode production by KCC Luilu metallurgical plant increase to 67,298 tonnes in Q1 2020 from 65,402 t in Q4 2019. The y-o-y increase in Q1 2020 copper cathode and cobalt contained in hydroxide production was driven by higher feed grades to Luilu metallurgical plant. The Kamoto Concentrator produced 56,709 t of concentrate in the quarter.

Progress was also made on the EW refurbishment program and current efficiency improvements. A fully detailed operational excellence (OE) program defines the scope for margin improvements in the order of US$ 200-250 million per annum. A dedicated

Kamoto Concentrator flotation cells. Photo: KML

operations team is working towards delivery of detailed implementation plans for each of the initiatives and the full benefits are expected to be progressively realisable by 2022. www.katangamining.com

Ivanhoe news update on Kamoa-Kakula At the flagship Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project, management and corporate optimisation targets company-wide cash savings of up to US$ 75 million to strengthen its treasury of approximately US$ 600 million. Ivanhoe Mines Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng ‘Miles’ Sun announced on 27 April that underground development at the Kakula Copper Mine continues to advance ahead of schedule and that more than 13.5 km of underground development is now completed, which is 4.2 km ahead of plan.

CFO Marna Cloete was appointed President of Ivanhoe Mines in March 2020.

A third consecutive monthly underground development record of 1.7 km was achieved. Copper ore grading 8% is being mined and stockpiled.

Mr. Friedland commented: “The company is fully focused on bringing the Kakula Copper Mine to production on schedule and on budget. This positions us to deliver a world-class copper mine fortuitously timed for the highly probable recovery of the world economy by the third quarter of 2021.” www.ivanhoemines.com

Rio Tinto moderates outlook amid uncertainty

Releasing first quarter results on 17 April, (the Executive Board is headed by CEO, Eduardo Bartolomeo), Vale S.A. stated “Vale is committed to supporting its people, communities and stakeholders, and to maintain a healthy ecosystem for its value chain.”

Copper production rose 0.7% y-o-y to 94.5 kt in 1Q20, mainly due to higher volumes from Sossego after the unscheduled maintenance shutdown for the conveyor belt and the sag mill in 4Q19 that was partially offset by unscheduled maintenance at the Salobo processing plant.

Production of copper in concentrate at Sossego totalled 22.4 kt in 1Q20 and Salobo reached 42.2 kt, whilst Sudbury (Copper Cliff) copper output was 23.1 kt in the quarter.

Vale revised its copper 2020 production guidance to 360-380 kt from 400 kt. The new copper production guidance considers actual and potential losses, including Voisey’s Bay mine shut down since March, which may be extended until July, as well as limited ability to keep current maintenance shutdown schedules. www.vale.com

Vedanta wrestles with copper prospects

US is working to resume normal operations following a 5.7 magnitude earthquake on 18 March. The mine, concentrator, tailings storage facility and refinery have all resumed safe and stable operations, but there was some damage to the furnace. Capital expenditure is now expected to be US$ 5 to 6 bn in 2020 (down from US$ 7 billion) partly due to Covid-19 constraints. Mined copper guidance is now 475 to 520 kt and refined copper is reduced to a 165 to 205 kt guidance. Work on the Oyu Tolgoi underground project continues. As at 17 April, the project remained on track for first sustainable production between May 2022 and June 2023. This range includes a contingency of up to 8 months.

The Vedanta Resources Limited (formerly Vedanta Resources Plc) Interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2019 were published on 24 December. In India, due legal process is being followed to achieve a sustainable restart of copper operations at the 400 ktpy Tuticorin Smelter project, which is currently under force majeure (pre-dates COVID-19).

The Silvassa site successfully commissioned a new copper rod plant with no injuries in the period, and installed a boiler soot extraction system.

In Zambia the KCM business is being treated as discontinued operations with effect from 21 May 2019. ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc (ZCCM), a company majority owned by the Government of Zambia, which owns 20.6% of the shares in Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM), filed a petition in the High Court of Zambia on 21 May 2019 to wind up KCM (Petition) on ‘just and equitable’ grounds.

ZCCM also obtained an ex parte order from the High Court of Zambia appointing a Provisional Liquidator (PL) of KCM pending the hearing of the Petition. Since all the significant decision-making powers, including carrying on the business of KCM and taking control over all the assets of KCM, rests with the PL, Vedanta believes that the appointment of a PL has caused loss of its control over KCM as per IFRS 10.

www.riotinto.com

www.vedantalimited.com

The Oyu Tolgoi copper concentrator in Mongolia. Photo: Rio Tinto

Upon the 17 April release of Rio Tinto first quarter production results, Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jean-Sébastien Dominique Francois (J-S) Jacques said: “Our resilience and value over volume strategy mean we can continue to invest in our business, and support our communities and host governments.” At the Rio Tinto Plc AGM on 8 April, J-S Jacques confirmed a US$ 25 M investment in Covid-19 related community projects, out of a total of almost US$ 60 million.

Overall the company will spend around US$ 197 M on voluntary and mandatory community contributions in 2020.

Mined copper production of 133 kt was 8% lower than the same period in 2019, reflecting anticipated lower copper grades, partially offset by higher throughput. Kennecott in the

Vale cites maintenance limitations

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

12 | RUSSIA INSIGHT

www. c op p e r wor l d w i de. co m

A notable copper player Destined to remain a powerful resource superpower, the Russian Federation is the world’s largest country.

The nation stretches over eleven international time zones from Continental Europe in the West to the Bearing Sea and the Pacific Ocean in the East. It shares land borders with fifteen different countries including Finland and Norway in Western Europe, the Ukraine and the Baltic States in Central Europe and Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and North Korea in Central and Eastern Asia. The population of the Russian Federation is around 140 million, of which 75% is urbanised. The majority of its citizens are concentrated in the Western end of the country with its capital of Moscow.

Half of the country is covered by snow for six months of the year including much of the sparsely populated Siberian artic. However, the oil and gas fields of Western Siberia provide over half of the country’s natural gas and petroleum production, a major source of its wealth and its largest exports. The country’s economy is also based heavily on chemicals, iron and steel, iron ore, aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel, platinum, gold, lead, zinc, tin, copper (as detailed later) and wheat, wood and timber products. Because of the country’s large exposure to natural resource extractive industries (particularly oil and gas) wild movements in commodities prices can have a significant impact on the pattern of economic growth. However, the economy and economic reform has stalled in recent years. In 2019, the Russia state statistics bureau Rosstat reported that GDP had risen by just 1.3% last year, half the pace of the 2.5% expansion in 2018, and the slowest rate since it emerged from economic crisis in 2016.

Following the slump in oil and gas prices and the Covid-19 outbreak (Russia has the second highest number of recorded infections globally) the country is expected to enter recession.

A major contributor

The Russian Federation is among the world’s largest producers and exporters of copper (in various forms) and its output has been steadily growing over the past five years. In 2019, and based on some provisional data, it is estimated that Russia was the world’s ninth biggest copper miner behind Chile, Peru, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, the United States, Australia, Zambia and Mexico with an output of around three-quarters of a million tonnes. Measured in terms of refined copper production its ranking is even higher at fifth, behind China, Chile, Japan and the United States, with output of just over 1 million tonnes in 2019. This reflects the country’s status both as a net importer of concentrate, and a significant smelter and refiner of copper from a variety of secondary materials.

The Russian copper mining, smelting and refining industry is comprised of just three vertically integrated companies. These are the Mining and Metallurgical Company Norilsk Nickel, the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC) and the Russian Copper Company (RCC). According to Russian sources,

Norilsk Nickel accounted for a 42% share of domestic cathode output in 2019, followed

by UMMC with 40% and RCC with 18%.

The first and third of these companies also make downstream semi-manufactured copper products while Norilsk Nickel is solely focussed on its upstream operations.

In 2019 Norilsk Nickel reported that its total copper production from its Russian operations had increased by 7% year-on-year to 486 kt.

It attributed the growth to the gradual ramp up of concentrate production at its Bystrinsky project as well as rising copper concentrate output for sale to third parties and higher cathode production from the matte received from the polar division at Kola MMC. UMMC’s activities are mainly located in the Urals, specifically in the regions of Sverdlovsk and Orenburg and the Bashkortostan Republic.

The main productive assets are the mines of Gaiskiy, Uchalinskiy and Bashkirskaya Med and the concentrator at Svyatogor, while the major metallurgical assets are the Sredneuralsk and Svyatogor smelters, the Mednogorsk copper and sulphur plant and the Uralelektromed refinery.

The latter is also the home of the Group’s 290 ktpy capacity copper wire rod mill. UMMC’s downstream activities in Russia also include three non-ferrous metals processing companies (‘brass mills’) at Revda, Kirov and Kolchugino, which manufacture a range of flat rolled products, rods, bars and wire and tubes and pipes in copper and various alloys.

The Russia Copper Company was founded in 2004 and is the third largest producer of refined copper domestically. Its operations are in the regions of Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk, Orenburg and Novgorod, and also in Kazakhstan. RCC’s eight mining enterprises, one hydrometallurgical plant and three metallurgical plants have the capacity between them to produce 220 ktpy of copper cathode and 235 ktpy of copper wire rod. The two most important group companies for the production of cathode and wire rod are the Kyshtym Copper Electrolytic Plant and Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

the Novgorod Metallurgical Plant. The former was modernised fairly recently and now has a balanced capacity of 140 ktpy of cathode and wire rod, the latter using the Southwire continuing casting process. Additionally, a 1.2 ktpy electro-deposited copper foil mill is presently under construction at the site as it seeks to enter higher value-added markets.

The Novgorod Metallurgical Plant has a capacity to produce 70 ktpy of cathodes from a secondary metallurgical process utilising both lower grade scrap of 55% content and higher-grade scrap of 93% content. The factory also has an up to 95 ktpy capacity.

Consumption trend

Much smaller scale producers of copper wire rod in Russia also include Elkat, Rosskat, Transkat, Nalkat, Ruskat and a recent entrant Baltkat. Total Russian copper wire rod output is estimated to have been in the range of 400-425 kt in recent years. Approximately two-thirds of shipments are sent to the domestic insulated wire and cable industry whose sales are overwhelmingly focussed on serving the home market. The remain one-third is competitively priced for export via traders to the international market, with North Africa and the Middle East proving popular sales destinations in recent years. Due to the weakness of global demand last year even Russian wire rod was difficult to place and exports dropped 12% from 161 kt to 142 kt. Fortunately, local rod mills were more than able to compensate for this by increased deliveries to the local market. As a result, Russian apparent consumption of refined copper is estimated to have edged up by 2% to around 350 kt in 2019. Russian-origin cathode was easier to sell overseas and shipments rose 6.5% from 634 kt to 675 kt.

Author: Jonathan Barnes, Associate Consultant, Copper, Roskill (www.roskill.com)

RUSSIA INSIGHT | 13

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

RCC set on Karabashmed expansion

The Karabashmed plant of the Russian Copper Company

Vsevolod Levin, the President of the Russian Copper Company, which is based in Ekaterinburg, said in October 2019 that by 2022 it plans to invest more than RUB 12.2 bn (circa US$ 160 M) in expanding the capacity of

its Karabashmed JSC plant in the Chelyabinsk Region. The company plans to increase the plant’s blister copper capacity by about a third to reach 230,000 tpy and construct a new copper anode production section with a capacity of 265,000 tpy. An additional fourth converter will be installed in the metallurgical workshop, and two anode furnaces with a dual casting wheel will be built for almost RUB 6.5 bn.

Karabashmed plans to produce the first anodes in 2021. The plant will supply to Kyshtym Copper Electrolytic Plant (KMEZ JSC).

The project will eliminate the fire refining of blister copper to produce copper anodes, which is currently being carried out at Kyshtym.

Instead of blister copper ingots, copper anodes will be sent from Karabash to Kyshtym for subsequent electrolytic refining and producing

UMMC majors in non-ferrous The Non-Ferrous Division of UMMC consists of seven enterprises mainly located in Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk and Orenburg regions.

UMMC’s copper refinery Uralelektromed also produces gold, silver, copper wire rod, copper powders, selenium, tellurium, copper sulphate and nickel sulphate.

Copper concentrate produced by UMMC mining division is delivered for further treatment to its copper smelters: Mednogorsky Copper and Sulfur Plant (Orenburg), Svyatogor Smelter and Sredneuralsk Copper Smelter (SUMZ) (Sverdlovsk region). SUMZ capacity is

cathode copper. Expanding the capacity of the Karabashmed plant will increase the productivity of the KMEZ copper electrolysis workshop by almost 65 % to 230,000 t of cathodes per year.

By the time the anode production section is launched, the second sulphuric acid shop will start operating at Karabashmed plant to utilise the additional volume of furnace and exhaust gases. Increasing the efficiency of utilising the emissions from the enterprise is the remaining RUB 5.7 bn, ensuring there will be no net increase in the environmental load of the enterprise.

Together with the local authorities, RCC has developed a Karabash Municipality Development Program to 2021. www.rmk-group.ru

Norilsk output

around 150, 000 tpy of blister copper.

Several years ago complex modernisation of the plant significantly reduced its emissions.

Similar modernisation programs are underway at the other UMMC copper smelters.

Blister copper from the smelters is processed at Uralektromed (Verkhnaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk region). In 2012, the first stage of a new tankhouse with a capacity of 150 ktpy was commissioned. Currently the second stage of the refinery is being built, and is planned for commissioning in the near future.

Nornickel has allocated over 10.5 billion roubles (circa US$ 140 million) to combat the coronavirus outbreak and mitigate its impact PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel first quarter copper production decreased 9% y-o-y to 115 kt, almost all from own Russian feed.

Lower processing of concentrate from Rostec with lower copper content, was partly offset by increased mined ore volumes at Polar Division, and expansion of copper production at Bystrinsky (Chita) Project to 15 kt (+51% y-o-y).

www.ugmk.com

www.nornickel.com

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

14 | A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN

www. c op p e r wor l d w i de. co m

Former CEOs tips for managing crises Andrea Hotter of Fastmarkets interviewed Tom Albanese, former CEO of Rio Tinto and Vedanta on 14 May, and Cynthia Carroll, former CEO of Anglo American on 21 May, who gave their personal opinion on the Covid-19 crisis as compared to the 2008-9 Global Financial Crisis.

Tom Albanese

hasn’t been quite as resilient. There are likely to be more visible benefits of a diversified portfolio this time around.

Q. With the benefit of hindsight were there any warnings in the 2008-9 crisis?

A. There were signals in the market, but until the fall of Lehman Brothers on 15 September 2008 not much was being done. Each crisis is going to be different. The mining sector was more of a lagging indicator then.

Q. What did Rio Tinto do at that time?

A. All sectors went down around the same time.

There weren’t any winners and losers like you have today. We brought the executive and worker teams together and aimed to keep everyone focussed, motivated and encouraged, and basically acted as a cheerleader.

Q. What kind of recovery did you expect?

A. Everyone was second guessing around V, U, or L-shaped recoveries. It became an L-shaped recovery in Europe, U-shaped in the US, and V-shaped in China. Whatever the recovery shape,

Cynthia Carroll Q. With the benefit of hindsight were there any warnings in the 2008-9 crisis?

A. It is easy to say with hindsight. There was concern over the real estate bubble, but it was an all-time commodity high. We thought demand was just going to keep charging ahead.

Q. What did you do just after Lehman Brothers?

A. Eighteen months prior to the crisis, I was brought into Anglo as a change agent to address the safety culture and production mix. Our employees on 6 continents were working in silos.

In June 2007, I shut down Lower Rustenburg after a fatality, and this catalysed the desired change. We set out a 2-year US$ 2 bn value delivery over two years. New CEOs and divestments followed, and H2 2008 was strong before September.

Immediately when it happened, we had to move fast and take action. Safety was still a top priority. We looked at scenarios and lowest cost expandable and long life assets. We decided to cut capex and suspend dividend, a really tough choice and decision to make. Working constantly to gain alignment, value and focus, we restored the dividend in 2009 and the company was much more resilient on 2010. We followed this with a record performance in 2011, with US$ 11 bn profits.

Q. What was your mindset around how to handle the financial crisis?

A. This is a very good question for today’s world.

We were all soft targets at the time, and Xstrata approached us in 2009 for a ‘merger of equals’.

We were largest in PGM and diamonds at the

Tom Albanese was CEO of Rio Tinto from May 2007 to January 2013

is it is up to companies to create inner resilience to deal with it. In a cyclical industry you sort of have a muscle memory. Exploration and R&D usually gets cut quite quickly. You also look at costs of the shutdown or re-opening of operations.

Q. Was having a wide portfolio useful?

A. Everything was hit in 2008. Today is different really, as there is a shift in the demand pattern.

Gold and iron ore are doing well, whilst copper

Q. How well will automation lend itself to social distancing?

A. Even in an open pit you have social distancing issues. The Covid-19 crisis is only going to fast forward that technology in mining. Generally there is a move towards phasing projects from a more modest start, which is a more resilient approach both in this situation and the current market dynamic, with regard to NGO and stakeholder engagement.

Q. What advice would you give to current CEOs? A. You have just got to communicate and engage even if you’re only doing it on a screen. Key qualities are awareness and resoluteness, as well as ensuring 360 degree communication. Even after all my CEO experiences, which at times did require a very thick skin, I’m still smiling. You have to be a bit of an optimist in this sector!”

time, and were quick to push back. We couldn’t and didn’t stop our ‘One Anglo’ initiative. Also in these circumstances you have to be very dynamic in your decision making. We had to meet very regularly and prioritise people, alignment and performance. We were mostly being advocates.

Q. How do you know how far to cut supply back?

A. We stopped high cost platinum and coal production firstly. Again, you don’t have time to get there, you’ve got to get there very quickly.

We created visibility of our cost positions on the cost curve and everyone knew they had support to move theirs along. Sustaining C&M is absolutely key, maintaining infrastructure, and when to mobilise and de-mobilise people.

Q. Any there any particular voices that hold sway in a crisis?

A. You can find yourself very isolated. I see a lot of CEOs acting in silos today, and that is not the thing to do. You have to think about the mining industry bodies, ICMM, Chamber of Mines, who play a key role here, and utilise outside support. Reinforce the rules of engagement in your sector.

Q. This being a health crisis, what are the similarities and differences with 2008?

A. This time we started with healthy economies.

The US was looking solid, now it has 36 M unemployed. People are worried. You can rebuild an economy, but you cannot replace human beings, and returning to work today will be very different. The pandemic is a fundamental change that won’t go away, and the economic recovery will take years in my opinion. Countries will Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

Cynthia Carroll was CEO of Anglo American from January 2007 - 2013

focus much more on becoming self-sufficient, with a nationalisation and interior growth focus.

Future supply chains will need much more careful consideration, with less reliance on China.

Q. What lessons were learned last time around and what resulting advice would you give to present CEOs? A. That we need to much more adaptable, agile and responsive. We have to align stakeholders, be inclusive and focus on people. Seize the opportunity that the crisis brings, be courageous and inspirational, and maintain the momentum.

Start planning for the future in the new normal. www.fastmarkets.com View free on YouTube channel: Fastmarkets MB Events Managing in times of crisis - Exclusive interviews Tom Albanese, former CEO, Rio Tinto Cynthia Carroll, former CEO, Anglo American Svein Richard Brandztaeg, ex CEO, Norsk Hydro Regarding free upcoming webinars, please Email: kate.skinner@fastmarkets.com Follow exclusive updates on Twitter: @Fastmarkets Linkedin: Fastmarkets

MATERIALS HANDLING | 15

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

Demanding tougher solutions Finland’s Kopar Group, is highly acknowledged and known globally for engineering and manufacturing of robust systems for bulk material handling, and its slogan ‘hot & abrasive’ depicts well the company mission.

Applications span the metallurgical industry as well as the energy & power industry. Demand is also rising for such bulk material handling, conveying and cooling applications in pulp & paper and in the chemical industry, where abrasive minerals, semi-products, oxides, hydroxides, and so on are handled.

The company’s scope is to find solutions, together with its customers, to handle material flows of concentrate, sand, flux, revert, chemicals and various flue dusts. The main drivers are always to aim at minimising the overall cost of ownership, maintenance expenses and total operational expenses.

Further, there is a focus on maximising system availability. The lowest CAPEX solution is very rarely the best alternative for the customer, as most of the expenses arise from operations, and unpredicted downtime therein.

To create its solutions, Kopar applies various mechanical conveyors (e.g. chain conveyors, elevators, screw conveyors, belt conveyors), pneumatic conveyors (e.g. dense-phase, pulsed dense-phase, lean phase, air pumps, vacuum), and combinations of these, together with industrial scale test facilities and academia.

Additionally, there are numerous technologies for cooling (e.g. drums, screws, drag chain conveyors) of hot materials in a smelter environment. The pneumatic conveying solutions aim at minimising the use of conveying media (i.e. high solids loading ratio

µ), as its unnecessary consumption increases the operational expenses via air consumption, plus it increases the material velocity inside the system, increasing abrasion significantly.

Cupola valve design

Chain link materials

Cupola valve from Kopar

Kopar standard size chain links

Elevator chain

Kopar makes its own chain links, for use typically in its drag chain conveyors, chainoperated bucket elevators, and bucket excavators for dewatering and conveying of granulated matte/slag. The normal product portfolio for links covers case-hardened steel (manganese steel 20MnCr5 / EN 1.7147), tempering steel (boron steel 27MnCrB5 / EN 1.7182), hardened stainless acid-proof steel (AISI 420 / EN 1.4034), and heat resistant steel (1.4713).

In several applications manganese steel links have been replaced by boron steel. Though CAPEX-wise the costs are slightly higher, a double or triple, and in special cases a quadruple lifetime means significant savings for the operator. Kopar is continuously developing and testing new materials in an industrial environment for the benefit of its customers.

Changing of the rubber seal

Heavy-duty machinery requires spare and wear parts from time-to-time. That is why Kopar’s products are designed to be quick and easy to service, featuring a hanging structure with turnbuckles. Replacing the inflatable seal of a cupola valve is a simple procedure, as the valve’s design makes it easy to dismantle. This sophisticated design enables that the job can be done by your own staff in some 30 minutes of total downtime. This saves time and money and increases profitability.

This applies to all standard sizes of DN100, DN200 and DN300 valves.

The entire cupola valve, if needed, can be replaced in some 15 minutes of total downtime, though it is normally carried out during normal preventive maintenance breaks. Sophisticated logic also enables to operate the pneumatic system with minor indications of sensor failure or minor leakage in the sealing. Kopar trains your staff to service its equipment, and supervises them if necessary. The customer service is built on the same premise as the products.

Both are efficient, hassle-free and tailored to suit your demanding needs. www.kopar.fi

Heap leaching needs reliability FEECO International of Wisconsin, USA, provides solutions for heap leaching to extract precious metals such as copper, gold, silver, or uranium ore. Three areas of supply are evident: • Preliminary consultation and feasibility/ materials testing • Custom equipment manufacturing and system design • Heap leaching agglomeration system consisting of the rotary drum agglomerator and the necessary supporting material handling equipment

Feasibility and design

FEECO can design and build the systems needed in heap leaching operations, as well as run various tests to determine feasibility of agglomerating ore fines and determine process requirements. Testing can also be used to help mining firms take waste materials and turn them into value-added products through granulation or thermal processing technologies.

Agglomerators are an essential part of any large-scale leaching operation. Without drums, non-agglomerated ore fines tend to be irregular in shape, impeding a consistent flow of leaching solution through the ore heap. Use of heavy-duty agglomerators ensures efficient

FEECO Ore Drums. Photo: FEECO International

agglomeration and mixing of particle fines and leaching solution to achieve a homogeneous mixture of agglomerates that are uniform in size and shape, maximising leaching agent flow through fines. The additional revenues derived from agglomerated ore fines can quickly account for and exceed the initial up-front capital investment of a rotary drum.

Handling systems

All FEECO material handling equipment is highly engineered and robust, ideally suited to Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

heap leaching and metallurgical processing.

Regardless of facility size or storage capacity, FEECO can custom fit the ideal conveyor system to keep production moving smoothly and offers a complete line of belt conveyors, bucket elevators, and steep incline conveyors.

Belt trippers on loadout conveyors facilitate multiple discharge areas at any given point in production. Once alternative discharge areas are set up along the conveyor line, the belt tripper will interrupt the flow of material and jettison a pre-configured amount of material through the alternate discharge area(s). The tripper’s design permits both fixed and movable positioning, allowing the production staff to switch to alternate discharge areas ‘on-the-fly’ without interrupting the flow of production.

For smaller-scale facilities, FEECO offers a belt plow system, which pushes quantities of material out of the production flow into one or two fixed discharge areas, allowing for quick reconfiguration with minimal interruption. www.feeco.com Acknowledgment: Summarised with permission from ‘A Look at FEECO’s Capabilities in the Heap Leaching Industry’, FEECO Newsletter, 12 May 2020 by Jenny Seim, Technical Writer.

16 | CONTRACTS & PEOPLE In brief…

The World Trade Organization (WTO) predicted a severe decline in international commerce in an 8 April report. The WTO forecast a contraction of between 13% and 32% this year as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts normal economic activity, and says the impact on trade is likely to exceed the slump caused by the financial crisis just over a decade ago.

www. c op p e r wor l d w i de. co m

Mill linings for Russian Copper

www.wto.org

On 14 April the Antonov An-225 Mrija, the world’s largest transport plane, landed at Okęcie Airport in Warsaw with a cargo of FFP2 type protective masks, medical overalls and face protection visors. Transport from China was prepared by KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. and Lotos S.A. on behalf of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. www.kghm.com

The sixth plane contracted to bring supplies purchased by Vale in China to fight the spread of the new coronavirus has landed on 22 April at Guarulhos International Airport (SP) in Brazil.

So far, Vale has passed 12.8 million of the 15.8 M personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Ministry of Health, in addition to 3.5 million rapid test kits. www.vale.com

Eurasian Resources Group executives, Mr Benedikt Sobotka, CEO of ERG S.à r.l., and Mr Aldiyar Kaztayev, First Deputy CEO of ERG S.à r.l., have offered to take a temporary 30% reduction in their salaries amid the coronavirus pandemic. ERG has installed industrial thermal remote sensing cameras to screen employees’ temperature when entering operations.

Close up of a Metso mill lining project. Photo: Metso

Metso of Finland has won a contract for the supply of SAG and ball mill linings for the upcoming facilities of Russian Copper Company’s (RCC) Tominsky Processing Plant. The deal complements two earlier mill lining contracts for RCC’s Mikheevsky Processing Plant, signed in December 2019. With a combined value of approximately EUR 24 million, the three orders have been booked for Metso’s Q1/2020 (Tominsky) and Q4/2019 (Mikheevsky) orders received.

First shipments started in March 2020. Metso’s deliveries will cover almost one year’s worth of mill lining needs as part of RCC’s large-scale mill lining project. Vsevolod Levin,

President of RCC, said “Metso is our longtime reliable partner in implementing the most ambitious projects. This ensures superior operational performance of our enterprises, as well as the safety of technological processes for human health and environment.”

The Russian Copper Company (RCC) was founded in 2004 and comprises eight mining enterprises, a hydrometallurgical plant, three metallurgical plants, and a trading company. RCC produces copper concentrate, copper cathodes (c. 220 ktpy) and copper rods (c. 235 ktpy), as well as zinc concentrate, refined gold, and refined silver. www.metso.com

Jameson Cells for New Britannia circuit

www.businesslive.co.za

Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (MMC) has reached an agreement to acquire a 30% stake in Mantoverde copper mine from Mantos Copper Holding SpA and participate in the Mantoverde Development Project.

MMC will contribute US$ 263 M for the acquisition and will receive offtake rights for 30% of copper produced in the form of copper concentrate. www.antaike.com

Mexican projects were summarised in Southern Copper Corporation’s fourth quarter and 2019 results on 25 February. Buenavista Zinc in Sonora includes the development of a new concentrator to produce approximately 80,000 tons of zinc and 20,000 tons of copper per year. The capital budget is US$ 413 million, and the firm expects to initiate operations in 3Q22. The process of bidding for the site preparation has started and the purchase orders for the major equipment have been placed.

Secondly, Pilares near La Caridad concentrator is an open-pit mine to supply 35,000 tons of copper in concentrates annually. Pilares’ expected ore grade of 0.78% will significantly improve the overall mineral ore grade processed, with La Caridad at 0.34% presently.

Thirdly, El Pilar mine in Sonora is 45 km from Buenavista and has copper oxide mineralisation. It will operate as a conventional openpit mine and copper cathodes will be produced using SX-EW technology. The budget for El Pilar is US$ 310 million and production is due during 2023. The construction of the pilot plant is finished and the production tests have recently begun. www.southerncoppercorp.com

Glencore to take Katanga Mining private

was removed by extensive pilot plant testing at the nearby Stall concentrator, as well as through Hudbay staff experience with Jameson Cell and other pneumatic flotation technology. Manager of Metallurgy for Hudbay, Matthew Taylor, said “We needed to build in the ability to handle a large variation in copper feed grade while maintaining the flotation tails grade below 0.1% copper reporting to the tails leach circuit.” The investment is intended to maximise the project NPV over the forecasted mine life, head grades, and mineralogy.

It was confirmed on 22 April that Katanga Mining Limited (KML) had entered into a definitive agreement with Glencore International pursuant to which it would be taken private by way of an amalgamation of the company with a wholly-owned subsidiary.

Glencore had a 99.4% interest in KML prior to the agreement. KML has a 75% interest in Kamoto Copper Company (KCC), the entity engaged in copper and cobalt mining activities. Gécamines owns the remainder directly or through its Simco subsidiary. KCC owns underground and open-pit mines, the Kamoto concentrator (KTC) and the Luilu Metallurgical Plant which produced broken cathode until 2015. The move brings these assets more firmly under the control of the biggest mine producer of cobalt in the world.

www.glencoretechnology.com

www.roskill.com

www.eurasianresources.lu

Zambia signed an $825 million contract with a China Railway Construction Corp. unit to upgrade tracks in the south of the country, the company said.

The project will last eight years and will cover nearly 650 kilometres (404 miles) of lines. The project’s financial arrangements were not detailed.

A Mexican wave of projects for SCC

Jameson Cells can perform all duties in a flotation circuit. Photo: Glencore Technology

Hudbay’s New Britannia operation has chosen to create a flotation circuit made entirely of Jameson Cells.

The Northern Manitoba operation needs to process finer grinds and higher grades of ore, and to manage costs while doing so means pursuing as small a footprint as possible, while still delivering optimised recoveries and concentrate grades.

The Jameson Cell was identified

by Hudbay as being integral to the optimal circuit configuration. The new circuit will go into a dedicated, standalone building, meeting capital and operating target cost targets for a remote site. Any perceived risk

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

CONTRACTS & PEOPLE | 17

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

Duggal made interim CEO at Vedanta

Scott Brass is acquired by Wieland

In brief…

In 2019 TOMRA created a new Circular Economy Division division focused specifically on the goal of empowering people and business to transform to a circular economy.

TOMRA’s major task is to collaborate and educate along the value chain as an impact leader. The core team currently consists of 20 full-time employees based in Europe and Asia. www.tomra.com

Sunil Duggal became Interim CEO of Vedanta Limited on 6 April. Photo: Hindustan Zinc

Vedanta Limited has appointed Sunil Duggal, CEO, Hindustan Zinc (HZL) as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the company. Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan stepped down as CEO and Director of the Company from 5 April 2020 to rejoin his family in South Africa. Chairman, Navin Agarwal said “We would like to acknowledge and express our deep appreciation and thank Venkat. He has been in the forefront in leading the sustainability practices within the group.” The Board also welcomed and appointed Anil Agarwal as the Non-Executive Chairman of Vedanta Limited. Navin Agarwal will be the Executive Vice Chairman of the Board. The company will be run by a Management committee comprising of CEO, CFO, CHRO and CCO who will take all key decisions collectively under the guidance of Chairman. www.vedantalimited.com

BHP establishes contractor fund in Chile Due to the COVID-19 health emergency, BHP has found it necessary to limit the number of employees in its operations from 7,310 to 4,910 and contractor workers in its operations from 21,911 to 11,289 as at 18 April. On March 23, BHP announced initial assistance along with the decision to limit the entry of contractor workers to its operations. Now it has classified its collaborating companies according to criteria. For smaller and mediumsized companies, with a more fragile financial situation and whose local or regional workforce is important, BHP will continue to voluntarily pay 70% or 90% of the fixed remuneration and social security contributions associated to the scope of the works contained in the contracts until 30 June 2020. This contribution could amount to US$ 25 million, which includes the US$ 8 M of initial aid implemented between March 23 and April 13. www.bhp.com

Scott Brass offers specialty metals products. Photo: Wieland Group

Wieland North America has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the business of specialty metals re-roller Scott Brass (House of Stainless, Inc., d/b/a Scott Brass) through an asset purchase transaction. The transaction will broaden the customer base served by Wieland’s global distribution network (consisting of over 90 facilities and 9,000 employees) and further strengthen Wieland’s position in the North American market.

Scott Brass, based in Cranston, Rhode Island offers a range of

specialty metals products to its customers in the northeast and across the United States. The move stems from Wieland’s pursuit of growth opportunities across North America, Europe, and Asia, and builds on recent momentum from its merger with Global Brass and Copper. Scott Brass customers can expect Wieland to continue to meet their needs for high quality copper, copper alloy, and specialty metals products. The Wieland-Scott Brass transaction is expected to close in mid-May 2020. www.wieland.com

Integrating large-scale renewables in China ABB’s Power Grids business has won several major orders to supply advanced HVDC converter transformers and high-voltage equipment for three 800 kV, ultrahigh-voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission links, owned by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), in China. The links will help in integrating hydro, wind and solar power generation, whilst reducing CO2 emissions. Each link will transport up to 8,000 MW of electricity. “We are glad to see a recovery in demand for reliable and clean energy, as the Chinese economy gradually returns to normality following the COVID-19 outbreak,” says Claudio

Facchin, President of ABB’s Power Grids business.

The 1,700 km Yazhong-Nanchang link is part of China’s West-East Electricity Transmission initiative.

It helps the hydro-resource-rich Sichuan Province in Southwest China, to transmit green energy to the load centre of Jiangxi Province in East China. Once complete, the project is expected to reduce c.

16 Mt of coal consumption and 40 Mt of CO2 every year, whilst the 1,500 km Qinghai-Henan project is estimated to reduce CO 2 emissions by c. 30 Mtpy.

There is also an order for an 1,100 km Shaanbei-Wuhan link. www.abb.com

Global transportation management Elemica, a leading Digital Supply Network for manufacturing industries, has acquired Eyefreight, a global leader in multi-modal SaaS Transportation Management Solutions (TMS). The combination creates a unified global logistics and supply chain network.

Together, TMS clients can take full advantage of Elemica’s global end to end supply chain network while providing Elemica clients the ability to incorporate transportation management

capabilities to their supply chain quickly. Over the years, Elemica has introduced game-changing solutions to automate the buying, selling, moving, quality, and seeing transactions that drive value through the supply chain. Celebrating twenty years in business this year, the company processes over US$ 600 billion in commerce annually through its network, automating the buy, sell, move, and quality transactions to accelerate digital transformation www.elemica.com

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

Fastmarkets asked Murat Bayram, Director & Head of European NonFerrous for EMR Ltd, about China’s renaming of copper scrap as renewable materials. He said: “It feels for me illogical to have metal scrap under the legal framework of a waste legislation” and “The most environmentally friendly ‘green copper’ products will have the edge in this decade”. www.fastmarkets.com

Southwire is expanding its giving efforts throughout 2020 in response to COVID-19 with a focus on hunger, education and hope for the holidays.

Southwire’s donation, totalling US$ 1 million, will be made in three phases divided out through the rest of the year.

Southwire will be donating a total of US$ 500,000 to the Feeding America hunger-relief organisation. www.southwire.com

To support local community efforts to fight COVID-19 and its social and economic impacts, Rio Tinto is investing US$ 10 million in a variety of grassroots projects across Canada and the United States from delivering critical equipment for people working in hospitals to providing practical support to communities and families. www.riotinto.com

Antaike’s Copper & Copper Fabrication Monthly No.280 reports that from January to March, China imported 209,800 tons of copper scrap, a significant decrease of 36.95% year on year. The 90.2 kt imports in March were 11.18% down year on year.

China’s imports of copper scrap from Southeast Asia have been greatly affected by the epidemic. www.antaike.com

Bechtel CEO Brendan Bechtel has advised the White House that widespread test and trace capabilities are needed for any mass return to work. Also, Increasing public sector demand for projects is critical to offset the retreat of the private sector, and improving the efficiency of project permitting and approvals will help accelerate private sector recovery. www.bechtel.com

18 | A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLIER

www. c op p e r wor l d w i de. co m

Setting trends in non-ferrous For the Non-Ferrous Metals Industry, SMS group is a globally operating group with over 14,000 specialists.

Most important are our service activities, write Dr. Rolf Degel and Timm Lux Around 4,000 experts serve our customers in many workshops. These satellite offices and workshops are very helpful to locally support our clients beyond that from sales up to the execution phases of projects. The internal digitalisation supports the easy exchange of information and documents within our companies and subsidiaries. Our network with numerous divisions combines the extensive expertise of our partners Paul Wurth, SMS digital, Hertwich, Sunfire, as well as the integration of a network of qualified specialists in the field of non-ferrous metals, which provides a unique knowledge pool.

Products and services

Non-ferrous metals find their applications in all kind of electronic goods, like smartphones, tablets and network systems. These materials with their particular properties are the basis of our modern life and future. The non-ferrous metal industry is of same importance and similar turnover volume as the iron and steel industry.

The SMS group’s team is developing modern process lines in the field of battery and electronic scrap recycling, refining and smelting furnaces, slag conditioning processes as well as hydroand pyro-metallurgical process combinations.

Our process knowhow provides a stable base for the customer’s road map to complete digital solutions. In addition, certain innovative and proven solutions, as successfully applied in the iron and steel industry, are being adapted to the non-ferrous world with significant benefits for our customers. We have also developed effective measures to produce all non-ferrous metals with minimised CO2 emissions. The field of our engagement in the non-ferrous metals world is widely spread and covers various solutions in recycling technologies and optimised units for primary and secondary non-ferrous metals production, all geared toward the sustainable aspects of a circular economy.

The SMS group divisions and their interactions

BlueTechnology

What is the meaning of BlueTechnology for non-ferrous metal units? It’s quite simple: BlueTechnology takes into account the importance of sustainability for production lines and raises awareness of ethical and ecological metal production. Our BlueTechnology production units show the following aspects: • Environmentally balanced with highly efficient water and off-gas treatment plants • CO2-neutral metal production (long term) • Minimised waste accumulation by turning almost all residues into products • Maximised product yield • Minimised power, media and water consumption • Tracing of metals - where does the metal go?

• High standards in health and safety aspects • Maximised recycling in primary metal production line.

Non-ferrous expertise areas of SMS group

Each and every of these aspects is committed in our aim and we can contribute with technological solutions combined with digital systems tracking all raw material flows and sources from the mine/scrap collector to the finished product assuring BlueTechnology.

Updating existing equipment to meet future requirements is also part of the BlueTechnology approach. Complex integrated smelters cannot be changed from one day to the other.

Pyrometallurgical copper, nickel and noble metals plants are operating with Peirce-Smith (PS) converters which are in many cases 25 years and older. As the common bottleneck in pyrometallurgical copper production, Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

downtimes of the converters need to be minimised in order to maximise the blister output. With a relatively short refractory lining lifetime in the tuyere zone of usually less than three months, the equipment suffers from stress due to heat exposure and mechanical wear.

These rough conditions can lead to accelerated aging of the shell and the drive train.

Peirce-Smith converting

The Peirce-Smith (PS) converter was introduced to the copper industry in 1908.

This reactor type is still the most widely-applied unit for producing blister copper. It is also common in nickel and PGM production process

A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLIER | 19

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

3D scan of a Peirce-Smith converter. Photo: SMS group

Converter exchange at Aurubis in Hamburg. Photo: SMS group

lines. SMS Group’s Peirce Smith converter with updated BlueTechnology is the next logic step in metal converting.

Converter service check

To check the condition of the Peirce Smith converters, SMS group Service specialists evaluate the condition of the unit during inspection. Based on the customer’s needs, they quickly identify any required maintenance and repair tasks as well as spare parts needed.

Inspection of the equipment includes, for example: • 3D Scan of the converter shell • Check of the refractory wear profile • Check of the drive train • Check of the condition of bearings, rollers and support rings • Expertise for vessel replacement and technology update.

Following the inspection, a detailed service report will be prepared. It includes the results of the equipment check on an assembly and component level. Documentation can be used as a tool for deciding future investments including technology updates. All necessary inspection and maintenance work as well as any spare parts requirements can be planned effectively for the future. Routine equipment checks provide the ability to accumulate data and create a history of the plant to identify trends in the plant’s condition. Similar service checks are performed for anode furnaces, TBRCs, anode castings wheels and related equipment in the plant.

Updates to the PS converter

SMS Group has added features to the original Peirce Smith converter design that in particular improve the efficiency and availability of the vessel, plus they ensure a longer campaign time: • Prolonged lining life in the tuyere, mouth, and off-gas offtake areas • High-pressure tuyeres with increased oxygen enrichment levels • Less off-gas volume for smaller gas treatment plants and improved gas capture • Robust refractory design without springs system at the end walls.

Some of these improvements were also applied at the latest PS converter exchange at Aurubis AG, based in Hamburg, which has successfully put into service the new Peirce-Smith converter

The Aurubis Hamburg site is in an urban area

design supplied by SMS group. The converters are used to produce blister copper and each has a capacity of 300 tons. They were replaced during a scheduled plant shutdown in autumn 2019.

The rotary Peirce-Smith converters process the liquid copper matte from the flash smelter into blister copper with a purity of around 98%. To achieve this, oxygen, which is injected through a series of nozzles below the bath, is blown into the copper matte. During this process, iron and sulphur are largely removed from the copper.

Once treated, the blister copper is poured into handling buckets and fed into the anode furnaces for pyrometallurgical refining.

The converter vessels are almost 14 m long and are designed for an annual capacity of 250,000 tons of blister copper. They each weigh 160 tons, excluding the refractory lining.

The converter design was further refined and successfully optimised in collaboration with Aurubis AG, thus ensuring efficient production.

In replacing the converters, Aurubis AG is strengthening and consolidating its position as an integrated copper group and the world’s largest copper recycler. Every year Aurubis produces over 1 million tons of copper cathodes and various copper products from these, including cast wire rod, shapes, rolled products, strip, and specialty wire and profiles. Customers of Aurubis include companies that are active Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

in the semi-finished products industry, in the electrical, electronics, and chemicals industries, as well as sub suppliers to the construction, automotive, and renewable energy industries. www.sms-group.com/de/kompetenzen/non-ferrous-metals/

Testimonial

The SMS group team would like to congratulate Chris Holding and Copper Worldwide for a decade’s work by the magazine in support of the Copper Industry. The accompanying good reporting of innovations and technologies by the magazine was always important for us and we appreciate the good cooperation.

We continue to wish you all the best for the future.

Authors:

Dr. Rolf Degel, Vice President, NonFerrous Metals and SAF

Timm Lux, General Manager, Non-Ferrous Metals

20 | OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY

www. c op p e r wor l d w i de. co m

Novel shaft furnace modernisation SMS group has replaced a complete copper shaft furnace with control system over two summer shutdowns Deutsche Giessdraht GmbH, a company of Aurubis Group Deutschland, was faced with the tasks to not only keep its more than 40-yearold shaft furnace for copper rod production competitive, but also comply with higher environmental, safety and emission requirements.

A great challenge of the modernisation project was a limited timeframe since only a summer shutdown period of maximum three weeks is available every year to make sure that customers are otherwise continuously supplied. In a close and cooperative partnership, an unconventional concept was created considering customerspecific requests. The complete conversion work was divided into two construction stages to make it possible for the revamping to be carried out within scheduled stoppages.

In the first phase of modernisation in 2018, control and safety equipment was modernised and preparations were made for the foundation of the new copper furnace. The modern control system is a significant simplification for operators providing at the same time a transparent data display. The burners were replaced during this first phase of modernisation.

A special crane was used for hoisting major shaft furnace components.

Photo: SMS group

The burners were replaced during the first phase of modernisation.

Photo: SMS group

Based on the experiences gained during the application of the new control other optimisation and customer requests were expressed which were then also implemented during the second construction phase.

In addition to that, the burner supply was optimised and renewed. Through the new uniform design of the burner configuration a high flexibility is reached when burners are replaced.

To reduce the assembly time the bottom furnace segment was already relined locally before it was taken into the building and only then it was installed. Usually, the furnace is first completely mounted and then relined, i.e. the necessary drying time would have prolonged the necessary timeframe significantly.

During the scheduled summer shutdown period in 2019 only three weeks passed between complete cold blowing of the cathode shaft furnace up to furnace reheating. After just four weeks the first 1,000 tons of dg-RheinRod™ were produced.

Replacement of shaft furnace For the second modernisation phase extraordinary ideas were implemented.

www.sms-group.com

Extraordinary challenges mastered On 19 March 2020, SMS group successfully commissioned the new copper cold rolling mill of the Chinese copper manufacturer Jintian Ningbo Copper Co., Ltd. in the province of Jiangsu. Against the background of the restrictions due to the current global spread of the COVID-19 virus, the commissioning was an extraordinary challenge successfully mastered in close partnership between the teams of SMS Siemag Technology Co., Ltd., China, and Jintian Ningbo Copper Co., Ltd. The four-high reversing cold mill is used for the pre- rolling/roughing of thick strips with a maximum width of 650 mm and a maximum entry thickness of 18 mm. The copper and copper-alloy strips are transported as wound

coils with variable inner diameters to the cold rolling mill and placed in the provided payoff stations. Due to the great variability of the strip gauge, the payoff and recoiling stations consist of a combination of coiler gear and coiler drum of various reel diameters.

Maximum economic efficiency in processing the high-quality material is assured by the yield-maximising SMS group design of the cold rolling mill. Proven actuators, as hydraulic roll adjustment, positive and negative work roll bending and multizone cooling, for example, assures the achievement of the required minimal strip thickness of 0.5 mm and the demanded high strip quality.

The complete scope of SMS group’s order

The new 4-high cold rolling mill of Jintian Ningbo Copper is specialised in rolling copper and copper-alloy strips of thick gauges. Photo: SMS group

from Jintian Ningbo Copper includes two further copper cold rolling mills, which will be brought on stream in the next few weeks. www.sms-group.com

New 20-high CRM for Northern Copper International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from Northern Copper Industry, Co., Ltd., P.R. China, to deliver a 20-high cold-rolling mill in four-column design to their new production facility located in the Yuncheng economic and technological development zone in Shanxi Province. Start-up is scheduled for December 2021.

The cold-rolling mill will be used to produce high-precision finished products made of bronze and bronze alloys with a final thickness of 25 μm and a strip width of up to 670 mm.

The special focus in design of the cold-rolling mill was not only the production volume,

but also the strip shape and strip thickness tolerances so that the finished products can be produced with highest quality.

The ANDRITZ scope of supply includes the engineering work as well as delivery of the uncoiler group with separate uncoiler, the two reversing coilers, the rolling mill stand, the two inlet and discharge groups including shape measurement and control as well as the entire hydraulic and rolling oil systems.

Northern Copper Co., Ltd. with headquarters in Yuncheng, China was established in December 2002 and operates in the mining, mineral processing and smelting sector for copper. www.andritz.com

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

ANDRITZ Sundwig 20-high cold-rolling mill. Photo: ANDRITZ

21 | PRODUCT INFORMATION

www. c op p e r wor l dw i de. co m

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

Ventilator splitter The Irish manufacturer Combilift, best known for its forklift and other handling solutions, has develop the Combi-Ventilate, a splitter device which turns one ventilator into multiple ventilation stations. A unit is currently undergoing laboratory tests. The Combi-Ventilate uses standard pipes and fittings for easy assembly and its individual patient filters prevent cross contamination. Each patient has a dedicated screen which allows medical professionals to individually monitor their vital information. This is very much designed as an attachment which can be added to any brand of ventilator. It costs a fraction

BULK MATERIAL HANDLING Kopar Oy

At the launch of the Combilift-Ventilate (l to r) are Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Robert Moffett Co-Founder & Technical Director, Combilift, Martin McVicar, Co-Founder & CEO, Combilift, and Antonio Patacho, Combilift.

of a standard ventilator and can be installed very easily into an ICU unit environment. Certain countries and cities are struggling to get enough ventilators.

Hernando de Aguirre 162 Of. 806 Santiago, Chile Tel: 0056 2335 2217 Fax: 0056 2321 8280 E-mail: alillo@metalex.cl Web: www.metalex.cl Contact: Alejandro (Alex) R. Lillo

Mettop GmbH

Kumerankatu 2 FI-11100 Riihimäki Finland Tel: 00358 (0)20 755 4200 Fax: 00358 (0)20 755 4320 E-mail: kumera@kumera.com Web: www.kumera.com Contact: Hannu Mansikkaviita

CONTINUOUS ROTARY EXTRUSION Holton Crest Limited The IMIS system on mobile means maintenance, stats and an optimised Mill are literally at the operator’s fingertips

when expected works are required and information about uptime and downtime. As a performance improvement app, an operation can pose ‘what if’ scenarios, track cumulative consumption, analyse performance over time, track the entire life of the mill and store photographs of key parts and events.

10 Cowley Road, Poole, Dorset BH17 0UJ, UK Tel: +44 1202 681 501 Fax: +44 1202 681 502 Email: info@holtoncrest.com Web: www.holtoncrest.com Contact: Malcolm Ladd

COOLING SOLUTIONS

Peter-Tunner-Strasse 4 A-8700 Leoben Austria Tel: 0043 (0)3842 81787 Fax: 0043 (0)3842 1787-8 E-mail: cu@mettop.com Web: www.mettop.com Contact: Dr. Andreas Filzwieser

ELECTRONIC SCRAP RECYCLING UrbanGold GmbH

Peter-Tunner-Str. 4 A-8700 Leoben Austria Tel: 0043 (0)664 88364080 E-mail: www.urbangold.at Web: recycling@urbangold.at Contact: Dr. Stefan Konetschnik

ELECTROWINNING

Mettop GmbH CAgroup

www.glencoretechnology.com

Grain chute sorter The new STEINERT CHUTEC chute sorter rounds off the portfolio of sensor-based sorting equipment for non-ferrous metals and allows heavy metals right down to a size of 5 mm to be sorted.

This makes STEINERT the only provider to offer its customers both eddy current separators and highresolution X-ray sorters for the highest possible level of recovery and cleaning from one source.

The recovery of non-ferrous metals using the STEINERT EddyC and the sorting of light and heavy metals in small grain sizes using the STEINERT XSS-T is nothing new, but what is new is the option of using X-ray fluorescence

CONCENTRATE DRYING Kumera Corporation

Metalex

www.combilift.com

IsaMill app Glencore Technology has transformed its popular IsaMillTM licensees’ free maintenance program to a mobile app that allows operations to optimise each mill’s performance and maintenance, achieving gains in life of asset, availability and reducing operating costs.

The IMIS App, exclusively for IsaMillTM customers, allows operators to manage maintenance, work tasks and mill availability, plus gain analysis and benchmark performance comparisons. It also provides a valuable and rare benchmarking opportunity.

As a maintenance management app, an operation can get the wear rates on components of their mill, the expected life remaining for each part, what spare parts are being used during inspections,

Sepänkatu 2 FI-39700 Parkano Finland Tel: +358 3 440180 E-mail: sales@kopar.fi Web: www.kopar.fi

ELECTROLYTIC REFINING

Peter-Tunner-Str. 4 A-8700 Leoben Austria Tel: 0043 (0)3842 81787 Fax: 0043 (0)3842 1787-8 E-mail: cu@mettop.com Web: www.mettop.com Contact: Dr. Andreas Filzwieser

ELECTROLYTE PURIFICATION

32 Industrial Avenue Thomastown 3074, Victoria Australia Tel: +61 3 8301 7100 Fax: +61 3 9359 4076 E-mail: sales@caanodes.com Web: www.caanodes.com Contact: Sebastian Ortega Galli

Metalex

Metalex

Hernando de Aguirre 162 Of. 806 Santiago, Chile Tel: 0056 2335 2217 Fax: 0056 2321 8280 E-mail: alillo@metalex.cl Web: www.metalex.cl Contact: Alejandro (Alex) R. Lillo

Hernando de Aguirre 162 Of. 806 Santiago, Chile Tel: 0056 2335 2217 Fax: 0056 2321 8280 E-mail: alillo@metalex.cl Web: www.metalex.cl Contact: Alejandro (Alex) R. Lillo

The Steinert Chutec chute sorter sorts heavy metals down to a grain size of 5 mm

to economically separate ultrapure products down to a fine grain of 5 mm and recover zinc, brass and copper in their purest form at this grain size. After separation, the qualities are pure enough to be ready to smelt. www.steinertglobal.com

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

22 | SUPPLIER DIRECTORY FURNACES Kumera Corporation

Kumerankatu 2 FI-11100 Riihimäki Finland Tel: 00358 (0)20 755 4200 Fax: 00358 (0)20 755 4320 E-mail: kumera@kumera.com Web: www.kumera.com Contact: Hannu Mansikkaviita

Küttner GmbH & Co. KG

Alfredstr. 28 D-45130 Essen Germany Tel: 0049 201 7293 0 Fax: 0049 201 7293 134 Email: team-knf@kuettner.com Web: www.kuettner.com Contact: Dr. Farzad Salehi

FURNACES, MELTING DROSS AND SCRAP

www. c op p e r wor l dw i de. co m

MATERIALS HANDLING Combilift Ltd

DANIELI FRÖHLING

Gallinagh Monaghan Town Co. Monaghan Ireland Tel: 00353 (0)47 80500 Fax: 00353 (0)47 80501 E Mail: info@combilift.com Web: www.combilift.com Contact: Sales Office

DANIELI GERMANY GMBH Scherl 12 D - 58540 Meinerzhagen Germany Tel: 0049 2354 7082 0 Fax: 0049 2354 7082 200 Email: sales.germany@danieli.com Web: www.danieli.com Contact: Frank Otterbach

Why not come and join the rest of us now?

MINERAL PROCESSING Weir Minerals Europe Limited

FURNACES, MELTING, TILTING AND ROTARY ANDRITZ Maerz GmbH

Corneliusstraße 36 40215 Duesseldorf Germany Tel: 0049 211 38425 0 E-mail: welcome-maerz@andritz.com Web: andritz.com

HEAT RECOVERY Küttner GmbH & Co. KG

Alfredstr. 28 D-45130 Essen Germany Tel: 0049 201 7293 0 Fax: 0049 201 7293 134 Email: team-knf@kuettner.com Web: www.kuettner.com Contact: Dr. Farzad Salehi

REFRACTORIES AND INSULATION HarbisonWalker International

1305 Cherrington Parkway, Suite 100, Moon Township, PA 15108 USA Tel: 001 905 977 7694 E-mail: anthony.rigby@thinkhwi.com Web: www.thinkhwi.com Contact: Joe Rigby

PolyMet Solutions GmbH

Küttner GmbH & Co. KG

Alfredstr. 28 D-45130 Essen Germany Tel: 0049 201 7293 0 Fax: 0049 201 7293 134 Email: team-knf@kuettner.com Web: www.kuettner.com Contact: Dr. Farzad Salehi

Peter-Tunner-Str. 4 A-8700 Leoben Austria Tel: 0043 (0)3842 817 87 E-mail: andreas.filzwieser@polymetsolutions.com Web: www.polymet-solutions.com Contact: Dr. Andreas Filzwieser

RHI Magnesita GmbH

PROJECT ENGINEERING Küttner GmbH & Co. KG

PolyMet Solutions GmbH

Peter-Tunner-Str. 4 A-8700 Leoben Austria Tel: 0043 (0)3842 817 87 E-mail: andreas.filzwieser@polymetsolutions.com Web: www.polymet-solutions.com Contact: Dr. Andreas Filzwieser

PROCESSING LINES

Halifax Road Todmorden Lancashire OL14 5RT United Kingdom Tel: 0044 1706 814251 Fax: 0044 1706 815350 Email: europe.minerals@mail.weir Web: www.minerals.weir Contact: Sales

Alfredstr. 28 D-45130 Essen Germany Tel: 0049 201 7293 0 Fax: 0049 201 7293 134 Email: team-knf@kuettner.com Web: www.kuettner.com Contact: Dr. Farzad Salehi

Kranichberggasse 6 A-1100 Vienna Austria Tel: 0043 (0) 50 213 – 6200 Fax: 0043 (0) 50 213 – 6391 E-mail: nfm-marketing@rhi-magnesita.com Web: www.rhi-magnesita.com

Saint-Gobain Industrial Ceramics Limited

Mettop GmbH

PNEUMATIC CONVEYING/ INJECTION Schenck Process

Unit 3, Alpha Court Capitol Park, Thorne Doncaster DN8 5TZ UK Tel: 0044 (0) 1302 321313 Fax: 0044 (0) 1302 554400 E-mail: enquiries@schenckprocess.co.uk Web: www.schenckprocess.co.uk Contact: Richard Sims

PROCESS MODELLING

Peter-Tunner-Strasse 4 A-8700 Leoben Austria Tel: 0043 (0)3842 81787 Fax: 0043 (0)3842 1787-8 E-mail: cu@mettop.com Web: www.mettop.com Contact: Dr. Andreas Filzwieser

RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES & EQUIPMENT

Mill Lane, Rainford St Helens, Merseyside WA11 8LP, UK Tel: 0044 (0)1744 887939 E-mail: craig.d.brennan@saint-gobain.com Web: www.ceramicsrefractories.saint-gobain.com Contact: Craig Brennan

REFRACTORIES ENGINEERING

PolyMet Solutions GmbH

Mettop GmbH

Peter-Tunner-Str. 4 A-8700 Leoben Austria Tel: 0043 (0)3842 817 87 E-mail: andreas.filzwieser@polymetsolutions.com Web: www.polymet-solutions.com Contact: Dr. Andreas Filzwieser

Peter-Tunner-Strasse 4 A-8700 Leoben Austria Tel: 0043 (0)3842 81787 Fax: 0043 (0)3842 1787-8 E-mail: cu@mettop.com Web: www.mettop.com Contact: Dr. Andreas Filzwieser

UrbanGold GmbH

Peter-Tunner-Str. 4 A-8700 Leoben Austria Tel: 0043 (0)664 88364080 E-mail: www.urbangold.at Web: recycling@urbangold.at Contact: Dr. Stefan Konetschnik

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY | 23

www.copperwor ldw ide. co m

ROLLING MILL TECHNOLOGY MINO S.p.A.

SMELTING – SECONDARY ANDRITZ Maerz GmbH

Via Torino 1 15122 - San Michele (AL) P.O. Box 362 – 15121 Italy Tel: 0039 0131 363636 Fax: 0039 0131 361611 E-mail: sales@mino.it Web: www.mino.it Contact: Geminiano Chiesa

Primetals Technologies USA LLC

40 Crescent Street Worcester, Massachusetts, USA 01605 Tel: 001 508 755 6111 Fax: 001 508 849 6573 E-mail: contact@primetals.com Web: www.primetals.com Contact: David Gow

Smelting webinars Corneliusstraße 36 40215 Duesseldorf Germany Tel: 0049 211 38425 0 E-mail: welcome-maerz@andritz.com Web: andritz.com

Küttner GmbH & Co. KG

Alfredstr. 28 Germany Tel: 0049 201 7293 0 Fax: 0049 201 7293 134 Email: team-knf@kuettner.com Web: www.kuettner.com Contact: Dr. Farzad Salehi

SOLVENT EXTRACTION Metalex

SMELTING – PRIMARY ANDRITZ Maerz GmbH

It all starts from metallurgy – creating customer value from 70 years of smelting R&D June 11 at 12 pm EEST

Towards fully automated smelting June 25 at 1 pm EEST Ausmelt process intensification: Case Zinc residues July 9 at 10 am EEST Electric furnace gas cleaning solutions in tightening environmental requirements Sep 2 at 12 pm EEST

Alex Stewart International 2b Sefton Business Park, Netherton Liverpool, Merseyside L30 1RD, UK Tel: 0044 (0)151 525 1499 Fax: 0044 (0) 151 523 3760 E-mail: analysis@alexstewartinternational.com Web: www.alexstewartinternational.com Contact: Stephen Russell

Outotec has created a series of educational webinars on smelting related topics, which run on the BrightTALK platform. Registration is mandatory, but free of charge.

Here is the schedule of the webinars:

Escrap – Turning waste into gold June 17 at 4 pm EEST

D-45130 Essen

SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS Alex Stewart (International) Corporation

ONLINE EDUCATION

Hernando de Aguirre 162 Of. 806 Santiago Chile Tel: 0056 2335 2217 Fax: 0056 2321 8280 E-mail: alillo@metalex.cl Web: www.metalex.cl Contact: Alejandro (Alex) R. Lillo

TUYERES - PUNCHING, SILENCING, PYROMETRY Heath & Sherwood (1964) Limited

Corneliusstraße 36 40215 Duesseldorf Germany Tel: 0049 211 38425 0 E-mail: welcome-maerz@andritz.com Web: andritz.com

Controlling temperature in the Flash Smelting Furnace Sep 9 at 12 pm EEST Precious metals refining technologies Sep 16 at 10 am EEST If you cannot attend the live webinars, you can view them on demand at: www.outotec.com/webinars

CIM Academy The Canadian Institute of Mining offers a range of online access plans for video content from conference presentations, workshops, webinars and more, covering topics like mining operations, innovation and technology and metallurgy and materials. www.cim.org

Küttner GmbH & Co. KG 512 Government Road West P.O. Box 340 Alfredstr. 28 D-45130 Essen Germany Tel: 0049 201 7293 0 Fax: 0049 201 7293 134 Email: team-knf@kuettner.com Web: www.kuettner.com Contact: Dr. Farzad Salehi

Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada, P2N 3J2 Tel: 001 705 567 5313 Fax: 001 705 568 8545 E-mail: info@heathandsherwood.com Web: www.heathandsherwood.com Contact: Michael Marinigh

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

SAMPLE CATEGORIES Ageing Ovens Analytical Instruments Analytical Analysis Apparel Auto Firing Systems Automation & PLC Control Systems Bar Code Labelling Camera Detection System for Mills Casting Casting Equipment Castings Certified Reference Material Coil Storage Systems Combustion & Burners Computer Software Consumables Cranes & Hoists DC Extrusion Billet Casting Deburring Tools & Equipment Die Heaters Embossing Equipment Engineering Design Environmental Control Extrusion Equipment Extrusion Presses Extrusion Temperature Measurement Extrusion Tooling Fans, High Temperature Filters and Filter Materials Filtration Systems Foil & Strip Processing Foundry Alloys Foundry Equipment Furnaces, Billet Heating Furnaces, Heat Treatment Furnaces, High Temperature Insulation Materials Furnaces, Melting Furnaces, Melting, Dross & Scrap Furnaces, Melting, Tilting Rotary Furnaces, Open top & closed type for anodes & cathodes Induction Heating Industrial Gases Inspection Systems for Mills Lubricants Marking & Automatic Identification Materials Handling Measurement & Testing Mechanical Handling Metal Circulation Molten Metal Level Control Molten Metal Technology Non-Contact Temperature Measurement Packaging Processing Lines Production Management Systems Project Management Recycling Recycling Equipment Refractories Refractory Installation Roller Sleeves Rolling Mills Rolling Mill Automation & Process Consulting Rolling Mill Technology Rolling Technical Courses Sawing & Cutting Scrap Processing Slitting & Cut to length Lines Smelter Equipment Stockholder, Trader Service Centre Storage Systems Thermocouples Thermocouple Protection Sheaths Tool & Die Shop Transfer Belts Used Machinery

24 | ROLLING UPDATE

www. c op p e r wor l dw i de. co m

Four high roughing mill for Northern Copper MINO SpA has been selected by Northern Copper Industry Co., Ltd. for the supply of a new Four High Roughing Mill for copper and copper alloys. The mill is to be installed in the new production plant that Northern Copper Industry Co. intends to build in the industrial zone of Yuncheng. The mill is going to process both soft and hard copper alloys starting from the thickness of 17 mm down to 0.5 mm over a maximum strip width of 670 mm. The mill is equipped with one dedicated unwinding group, with two big wheels for winding of thick strips (down to approx. 6-5 mm) and with two tension reels.

The mill’s design incorporates MINO’s knowhow in the field of roughing rolling. Such a process requires high stiffness of the stand and of the equipment in contact with the strip but, at the same time, also a certain flexibility of the mechanical actuators to properly control the flatness and the surface quality of the copper alloy strip. These two opposite requirements are simultaneously satisfied by MINO’s design, tested through the years in several successful projects around the globe.

Four high roughing mill data

Type of alloys:

Copper and copper alloys

Max. entry strip width:

670 mm

Max. entry strip thickness:

17 mm

Min. exit strip thickness:

0.5 mm

Max. coil weight:

10 t

Max. rolling force:

1,500 t

Max. rolling speed at mill stand:

400 m/min.

Typical MINO four high roughing mill for copper and copper alloys.

Photo: MINO

MINO has developed its own technology in the field of roughing rolling over more than 40 years by designing, manufacturing and commissioning roughing mills of various sizes (from minimum strip width of 450 mm up to maximum strip width of 1,250 mm), either in reversible single stand and in non-reversing tandem configuration. The automation of the mill is developed by MINO. The mill is equipped with the state of the art AVANTI AGC system provided by MINO Process Control UK for the accurate control of the thickness tolerance of the rolled strip. www.mino.it

Ningbo Powerway gets quality engineering

L to r: Typical plot of CFD and FEM analysis results.

Source: OTTO JUNKER News, 23 April 2014 Degreasing, annealing and pickling line

In August 2019, Ningbo Powerway New Material Co., Ltd. (Boway) of Ningbo, China placed an order with OTTO JUNKER for the supply of two continuous annealing lines with strip flotation furnaces for copper strip.

The company produces alloy bars and wires as well as alloy plates and strips.

The two lines are intended for installation in a new factory to boost the output of products such as copper alloy strip for electronic/ telecommunication devices. As a one-stop supplier, OTTO JUNKER will provide the entire lines - complete with integrated strip de-greasing and pickling units, brushing machines, passivating equipment and decoilers/recoilers. Parts of the system are to be manufactured locally by a wholly owned subsidiary, OTTO JUNKER Metallurgical Equipment (Shanghai) Ltd. Both systems are rated for strip widths up to 650 mm and strip thicknesses from 0.1 to 1.2 mm and 0.05 to 0.8 mm, respectively.

One outstanding feature is that each line can run at up to 120 m/min in continuous service. On the thin-strip line, strip joining is provided by OTTO JUNKER’s patented eyeletting joiner.

OTTO JUNKER brushing machines FBM2.0 and pickling station with rinsing system

The core of each degreasing, annealing and pickling line is a gas-fired 2VX-T strip flotation furnace. The metal strip is supported only by a cushion of protective atmosphere of nitrogen and hydrogen, without any mechanical contact, as it passes through the annealing and cooling cycle. The patented 2VX-T strip flotation furnace was developed in close cooperation with the Technical University of Aachen (RWTH).

Its specified target characteristics were optimised using computational fluid dynamics and had been confirmed by previously supplied systems of this type: • High buoyancy and stable strip position •U niform heat transfer across the strip width for consistently high product quality • Aerodynamic strip centering using patented centering nozzles Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2

• Long-life drum impeller type fans for optimum efficiency • No lead-through openings into plenum chambers from outside.

As part of an ‘Industry 4.0’ compliant digitalised factory, the supply of feedstock is handled by the user with the aid of a networked logistics system and driverless ‘automated guided vehicles’ (AGV).

These AGVs deliver and receive coils to/from an OTTO JUNKER coil car as the controllers exchange the relevant data sets.

In terms of CO2 emission savings, the two lines likewise meet the highest standards.

Alongside well-known energy loss minimising technology such as recuperative burners and optimised insulation, both lines are equipped with the OTTO JUNKER heat recovery system. This re-uses up to 30% of the useful energy input for heating the rinsing baths.

Apart from relying on locally manufactured content OTTO JUNKER, through its Shanghai service base, provides a high-quality service with minimised response times to the customer, Ningbo Powerway. Both lines are scheduled to be installed and commissioned in the summer/ autumn of 2021. www.otto-junker.com

RESCHEDULED EVENTS | 25

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

The new look calendar In recent months, more than 2,500 trade fairs worldwide have been cancelled or postponed due to the corona pandemic, including numerous industrial trade fairs. Here’s a selection of rescheduled events of interest.

2020

2021

Metal + Metallurgy China 2020

Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid

Metal + Metallurgy China 2020 was due to take place in May, but has been rescheduled to 18-20 August 2020, say the organisers. www.mm-china.com/EN

The 8th Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid Conference 2021 takes place from 7-10 March 2021 in Cape Town, including Workshop and Technical Visit.

Abstracts are requested by 24 August 2020. www.saimm.co.za

Non-Ferrous Metals and Minerals The XII International Congress & Exhibition ‘Non-ferrous metals and minerals’ presently takes place in Krasnoyarsk, Russia from 7-11 September 2020.

The event, having achieved its current form in 2009, usually attracts over 800 participants and schedules over 200 presentations, as well as having field trips and an exhibition area. www.nfmsib.com

ALUMINIUM 2020 The 13th ALUMINIUM 2020 is confirmed to be taking place from 6-8 October 2020 in Duesseldorf following an 8 May decision that trade fairs can take place again in North Rhine-Westphalia / Germany starting from 30 May 2020.

Car manufacturers are gradually resuming production in the country. www.aluminium-messe.com

Digital Mines 2020 The 2nd Digital Mines 2020 Conference postponed from April and featuring over 300 experts and site tours, has been rescheduled to 12-14 October 2020 in Perth, Western Australia. www.claridenglobal.com/conference/digitalmines/

I Copper World Conference Lima 2020 The I Copper World Conference Lima 2020, a biennial mega mining event organised by International Metallurgical Consultants (InterMet), is taking place on 28 - 30 October 2020 in Lima, Peru. Thematic Sessions include Mineral Processing and Operational Excellence. The commercial-technical exhibition area will consist of 221 booths. www.copper2020.com

Sulphur + Sulphuric Acid 2020 Taking place in The Hague in The Netherlands from 2-4 November 2020, CRU’s Sulphur + Sulphuric Acid conference is the annual global gathering for the sulphur and sulphuric acid industries. The conference attracts over 480 delegates, representing sulphur and sulphuric acid operators, producers, buyers, sellers and solution providers. www.events.crugroup.com

ALTA 2020 The annual ALTA conference, due to be held in May, has been rescheduled to 7-14 November 2020 in Perth, WA. An excellent technical program is on offer and abstracts are available on the website. ALTA 2020 is a world-class annual metallurgical conference, celebrating its 25th year, and a leading platform for innovation. Registration will open again soon. In the meantime, ALTA are presenting their well-respected short courses online from late May to early July, starting with Copper SX/EW Basic Principles and Detailed Plant Design, for which the on-demand recording has been available since 27 May. www.altamet.com.au

wire/Tube 2020 An initial casualty of lockdown, wire/Tube 2020 will now run in Duesseldorf from 7-11 December 2020. With around 2,600 exhibitors across 11 trade halls, and over 70,000 visitors from 130 countries expected, this is the premier show for these sectors. www.wire-tradefair.com/en

World Copper Conference 2021 The CRU World Copper Conference 2021 takes place from 12-14 April 2021 in Santiago, Chile.

The event regularly attracts over 500 local and international delegates, with over 40% being C-level decision makers. See also Page 6 for CRU’s recent analysis of the coronavirus outbreak via webinars from Jumana Saleheen, Erik Heimlich and Vanessa Davidson. www.events.crugroup.com

IMPC 2020 IMPC 2020, the XXX International Mineral Processing Congress, hosted by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), is now due to take place from 18-22 April 2021 in Cape Town, focussing on mineral and metallurgical processing. www.impc2020.com

ISRI 2021 ISRI 2020 was postponed from the end of April and is not being rescheduled.

ISRI 2021 is provisionally due to take place from 19 to 24 April 2021. www.isri.org

ZIMEC 2021 ZIMEC 2021 takes place from 6-7 May 2021 in Kitwe, Zambia. A ZIMEC 2020 event was rescheduled to take place in Kitwe, Zambia from 24-25 November 2020 at one stage. https://ametrade.org/zimeczambia

ET’ 2021 - Extrusion Technology The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) and the ET Foundation have announced the rescheduled dates and location for the Twelfth International Aluminum Extrusion Technology Seminar, previously postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The ET Seminar, now named ET’ 2021, will be held from 11-13 May 2021 in Orlando, FL. A new and updated website at will be the source for new and updated information as it becomes available. www.ET-21.org

EMC 2021 - Call for papers The GDMB says the European Metallurgical Conference EMC 2021 preparations are underway even with the ongoing coronavirus situation.

The aim is to meet again from 27 to 30 June 2021 in Salzburg, Austria, for a personal exchange of experiences and networking. Interested authors should send their lecture offer to GDMB. An assessment from author/delegate company’s or institution’s perspective as to whether travel will be possible again by the middle of next year is also requested. GDMB will also work on a communication solution to maintain the expert network for metallurgists, EMC 2021, in the event of ongoing travel restrictions, and invites suggestions.

Up to date information will be posted on the EMC website. www.emc.gdmb.de

Base Metals 2021 & 3rd Copper Cobalt Africa SAIMM is proud to host the Base Metals 2021 and the Third Copper Cobalt Africa Conference in Livingstone, Zambia from 13-15 July 2021. Abstracts of no longer than 150 words should be submitted by 25 January 2021. www.saimm.co.za

Apologies for any errors or omissions in the above information

Copper Worldwide Vol 10 No 2