Copper Worldwide Vol 11 No 2 issue by Metamedi

SECOND QUARTER 2021

VOLUME 11 |2

See Directory pp18-19

NOW IN PRINT AND DIGITAL SECOND QUARTER 2020

VOLUME 10 |2

CWD 2021 ISSUE 1 MARCH

CWDigital

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

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

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? People: Ankh and Outotec award winners Copper China a new addition to the Chinese show calendar

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 of inspection Bob Kickham Conference - and analysis with heritage SDI La Farga a Copper Comes Chunlei Cold Rolling responsibility gets rolling Fröhling in Hot tinning dip China report China - ROCS Mill contracts in every issue Sensor benefits support from with EVENTS Buyers Guide Beijing Antaike – 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

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

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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 Hamburg refit Beijing Buyers Guide Antaike Bascur awarded Refractories Rod strip event and An inspiring and Insulation 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 METALLIC MEDIA LTD

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- 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.”

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

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“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.”

Aurubis. An official partner of innovative ideas since 1866.

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

- Allison 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

— 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

THIRD QUARTER 2019

VOLUME 9 |3

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.

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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

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

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FIRST QUARTER 2020

VOLUME 10 |1

See Directory pp25-27

CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS

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09.11.17 11:32

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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

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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

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08.03.2019 07:53:29

Issue 1 - Introduction and Testimonials

Key news stories from the Global Copper Supply Chain

Highlighting trends and a story that spans a decade

You can believe that normal things are still happening

Everyone is on the clean and green agenda

Leaders on being much more holistic and open

Huelva leading the smelter energy conservation ﬁeld

Controlling rolling; Thin-gauge foil; Trolley rolls

Proﬁles created around copper - rod, tube and wire

Country Proﬁle - Russia is in it for the long term

Statistics

Contracts and People

Event Previews

Event Reviews

Event Diary / Future CWDigital and CW Issues

A Copper Worldwide Magazine Publication

ISSN 2046-9438

ISSN 2634-7040

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SUSTAINABILITY IS THE CAPACITY TO ENDURE

6 issues per year Next publication: July, September

n Reviews: CRU Wire ICA Circular n Spotlight: Indonesia Smelter trends n News: Kamoa-Kakula Africa rebounds Kola MMC Stats / Forecasts n 21st Century Smelting: Aurubis Hamburg n Clean Green: Pledges and approaches n EV Copper: Key areas Innovations and projects n Managerial: Majors in Q1 Projections n Events: KGHM at 60 IARC 2021 EMC 2021 Jun-Nov listing n Contracts: Udokan update Jiangxi Copper Nornickel plans JSC Almalyk Mantoverde n Supplier Directory Professional CSC services ISSN 2046-9438

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DIGITALIZATION In times of rapidly changing markets, you want to optimize your plants to stay ahead. We listen. We learn. We deliver: our automation and Digitalization specialists will help you implement learning mills that will boost efficiency, lower operating costs, and increase productivity. Whatever you envision, we will make it happen for you.

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CONTENTS | 1

www.copperwor ldw ide. co m

NEWS

4,5

Kamoa-Kakula begins; African output rises;

Kola MMC work; Output forecasts

Sustainability and energy transition initiatives; UK is green; China to peak

SPOTLIGHT

Smelter capacity and operating trends; Indonesian projects

MAR 25 - Udokan Copper LLC has started the installation of equipment at the construction site of the thickening and decantation area. Production is scheduled to start in 2023. Photo: Udokan Copper (see Page 14)

Inside stories EVENT REVIEWS

People back working together - the team at Quellaveco celebrating Global Safety Day in 2018. Photo: Anglo American (see Page 5)

SECTORAL STATISTICS

Latest IWCC forecast to 2022; New Roskill supply chain Report;

IWCC Trade Data; February WBMS figures; EU brass rod study

EVENT PREVIEWS

KGHM reaches 60; Upcoming Jun-Nov events listing; IARC goes hybrid R+V;

EMC 2021 tackles complex ores

CONTRACTS & PEOPLE

14,15

Udokan Copper makes progress; Jiangxi Copper snapshot;

Nornickel invests; DR Congo smelter plan; Almalyk US$ 2 bn modernisation; Mantoverde contract; Wieland recycling plant

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

18-19

Professional CSC services

CRU Wire & Cable; ICA Circular Copper; Roskill Copper 2021

21ST CENTURY SMELTING

8,9

P. J. Mackey admires Hamburg Smelter’s longevity and forward thinking

CLEAN GREEN REVOLUTION

10,11

A green approach works for Properzi; Ivanhoe pledges

net-zero GHG; SKC aims for 100% renewables

COPPER FOR THE EV AGE

12,21

Jon Barnes of Roskill on the most in-demand copper-based

solutions for the electric vehicle sector; Blockchain deployed to clarify EV supply chain; Tesla in charge last year; KME attuned to EV parts supply; Combilift electric drive awarded; Cu-Al busbar bonding project

MANAGERIAL 2020 REVIEW

Los Bronces running well for Anglo; Chino back for FCX; Glencore in steady

Q1; Southern Peru project outlook; New BHP Escondida worker agreement; MMG hopeful for H2 improvement Copper Worldwide Vol 11 No 2

KEY WORDS True recycling ‘The image of the closed loop of the circular economy (CE) conveys the impression that everything that enters the cycle also emerges in a way that can ultimately be used again without the use of energy. The inconvenient truth is that closing the loop is impossible! Therefore, an honest discussion involves speaking transparently about losses in the process, and the technological and economic limits to ‘closing the loop’. Smelters are the drivers to agilely manage the extraction of different metals simultaneously and maximise their respective recovery. Lead, like copper, is crucial as a metal collector in multi-metal metallurgical recycling. It is a key enabler of the CE, as it recovers metals such as gold, silver, bismuth, and antimony. Metallurgists know what refining charges are necessary for processing complex materials. We could play a key role in transparently informing society about what is possible and what isn’t. There is a growing understanding in today’s society that both manufacturers and consumers have to contribute to responsible resource consumption. However, this always comes at a cost.’ Extracts from a Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Markus Reuter director at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) since 2015 - Interview for Aurubis Annual Report 2018/19

4 | NEWS In brief… APR 28 The GHG emissions associated with financial institutions’ investing, lending and underwriting activities are on average over 700 times higher than their direct emissions, according to ‘The time to green finance’, a first-of-its-kind report by non-profit charity CDP, which runs the global environmental disclosure system. www.cdp.net

MAY 25 Ken Zak becomes the new head of the Dürr Group’s Clean Technology Systems division from 1 July. He succeeds Dr. Daniel Schmitt, who also drove the integration of Megtec/Universal, and will focus on exhaust-air purification and noise reduction technologies, and systems for the coating of battery electrodes. www.durr.com

MAR 10 The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) released a new Edition of its biannual Directory of Copper Mines and Plants that provides global capacity and project data. The Directory is available for sale to ICSG member country/ non-member country clients at the single-issue rate of e400/e700 and annual subscription rate of e550/e850. www.icsg.org

MAY 5 Taseko Mines’ next phase of Florence Copper will include the US$ 230 million commercial ISCR facility. Final design engineering and procurement of certain critical components is well underway to ensure a smooth transition into construction once the final Underground Inspection Control (EPA) permit is received later this year.

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

Kamoa-Kakula set to begin copper production

Good output recovery by African producers

MAY 3 - The Phase 1 KamoaKakula concentrator plant target date for C4 commissioning (milling of ore and first copper concentrate production) has been advanced to end May or early June, several months ahead of schedule. Overall construction of the project’s first phase 3.8 Mtpy concentrator plant is essentially complete, with the majority of the C1 (construction complete) certificates signed off. The plant is energised with permanent power and C2 commissioning, which involves electrical, control and instrumentation checks, is well advanced. Water is being circulated in certain areas of the plant, marking the beginning of C3 commissioning. C3 commissioning involves checking for leaks, certain instrument calibration, control loop checks, and

APR 23 - ICSG Preliminary data released on 23 April indicates world refined copper production increased by about 1.7% in January 2021 compared to January 2020 with primary production (electrolytic and electrowinning) up by 2% and secondary production (from scrap) essentially unchanged. Official Chinese refined production data indicates a growth of 2% in January. Chilean electrolytic refined output increased by 8.5%. In January 2020 production was still ramping up from smelter upgrades to comply with new environmental regulations. After taking into account a 16% decline in electrowinning refined production, total Chilean refined copper production (electrolytic and electrowinning) declined by 7.8%. In Africa, refined production was up by 15% in the D.R. Congo due to the continued ramp-up of new or expanded SX-EW plants, and by 40% in Zambia, where output has recovered from smelters’ operational issues and temporary shutdowns in 2019 and early 2020.

is the precursor to C4 commissioning (hot commissioning), which involves processing ore through the plant to produce a copper concentrate. Overall plant commissioning is running well ahead of schedule, with the first ore expected to be added to the mill by the end of May 2021. Lower-grade ore will be fed into the plant during the C4 commissioning phase, to ensure plant performance and copper recovery are satisfactory before increasing the head grade. Kamoa-Kakula has reached the 3.0 Mt target of mined high- grade and medium-grade ore several months ahead of its pre-feasibility study timeline. Contained copper in the stockpiles increased by approximately 23,000 t in April to a cumulative total of more than 140,000 t. www.ivanhoemines.com

Pirdop seals responsible production APR 26 - Aurubis primary smelter in Pirdop, Bulgaria is its first to successfully complete the Copper Mark certification process and now bears the quality seal. The certification verifies that Aurubis Bulgaria produces copper sustainably. Sites in Hamburg and Lünen will be the next to start the audit process. The Copper Mark requires participants The Copper Mark certificate for Aurubis Bulgaria. to fulfill 32 internationally recognised Photo: Aurubis sustainability criteria, which are assessed independently of each The Copper Mark therefore looks other. These include environmental at a company’s responsible business protection, occupational health and activities as a whole. safety, compliance, and human rights. www.aurubis.com

KCC represents a key part of Glencore’s almost $USD 8 billion investment in the DRC. Its stateof-the-art infrastructure alongside a world-class copper/cobalt ore body makes the operation a key part of the global energy and mobility transitions. Following its successful ramp-up in 2020, KCC is on track to achieve annualised nameplate capacity of 300 ktpy of copper and 30 ktpy of cobalt production. The operation conforms to the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) standard for cobalt as defined by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI). Ivan Glasenberg, CEO of Glencore, said: “Glencore remains committed to ensuring its KCC and Mutanda operations play their part.”

www.ukcop26.org

MAY 20 EcuaCorriente, a subsidiary of Chinese consortium CRC-Tongling Nonferrous Metals, expects to produce some 290,000 t of copper concentrate this year at its Mirador mine, a 93% increase compared to last year, when the company was affected by a six-month pandemic-related stoppage, leading to production of just 150,000 t. www.bnamericas.com

www.glencore.com

www.antaike.com

DRC President Tshisekedi visits Kamoto MAY 13 - The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), His Excellency Felix Tshisekedi visited the operations of Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) in Kolwezi, DRC. KCC is a joint venture between Glencore and Gécamines. President Tshisekedi was joined by the Prime Minister, Sama Lukonde, the Minister of Mines, Antoinette N’Samba, the Deputy Governor of Lualaba Province, Fifi Masuka, Albert Yuma, Chairman of Gécamines and other Senior Officials. Ivan Glasenberg, CEO of Glencore and senior representatives from Glencore’s management team, along with Daniel Freihofer - Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in the DRC completed the delegation.

Zijin world operations report APR 14 - According to Antaike Copper & Copper Fabrication Monthly April 2021, Zijin Mining 2020 annual report states that under incredibly extraordinary circumstances, Zijin produced 40.5 tonnes of gold, 453,000 t of mineproduced copper, and 342,000 t of zinc. Heilongjiang Zijin Copper Co., Ltd produced 131,800 t of copper cathodes in 2020 and the highest monthly output reached 13,600 t. Without increasing equipment, facilities and personnel, the company has increased its designed production capacity from 150,000 t of copper cathodes to 160,000 t, achieving the goal of capacity expansion and efficiency improvement. After completion of technological upgrade and expansion of Serbia Zijin Copper, 120 kt of mineproduced copper metal is expected to be produced annually and the smelter plant is expected to possess an annual refining capacity of 180 kt of copper metal (with room to increase to 200 kt). Kolwezi Copper Mine in the DR Congo produced 114,265 t in 2020. Bisha Zinc and Copper mine in Eritrea produced 21,725 t of copper.

www.tasekomines.com

MAY 4 The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 1 - 12 November 2021, in partnership with Italy. The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

www.icsg.org

Copper Worldwide Vol 11 No 2

NEWS | 5

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

ICSG forecasts 3.5% mine output growth

Anglo highlights technology and innovation

MAY 3 - The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) Statistical Committee developed the ICSG view of the world balance of refined copper production and use in late April. After three years of remaining essentially unchanged, world copper mine production, adjusted for historical disruption factors, is expected to increase by about 3.5% to 21.321 Mt in 2021 and 3.7% to 22.1 Mt in 2022. Production remained flat in 2020 as a recovery in production in some countries from constrained output in 2019 (e.g. Chile and Indonesia) and additional output from projects including those in Panama, Russia and the D.R. Congo helped balance the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

MAY 11 - Anglo American presents a technology and innovation update to the investment community, hosted by Technical Director Tony O’Neill and a number of his team. Progress on the development and implementation of Anglo American’s suite of technologies, integral to its FutureSmart MiningTM programme, is summarised in the context of Sustainable Mining Plan ambitions, particularly on water and energy targets, and the firm’s pathway to carbon neutral operations by 2040. Earlier, Anglo American presented its biannual sustainability performance update on 26 April, highlighting among other things the securing of 100% renewable electricity supply across its operations in Brazil, Chile

Recovery In 2021, growth of 3.5% is anticipated as global output is expected to recover from 2020 constrained levels and benefit from increased supply resulting from ramp-ups and planned start-ups. Following a four-year period where only two major copper mines were commissioned, the pipeline of copper mine projects is improving. Major projects starting in 2021/2022 include Kamoa Kakula in the D.R of Congo, Quellaveco in Peru, Spence-SGO (already started), and Quebrada Blanca QB2 in Chile and Udokan in Russia. A number of medium and small projects are also expected to come on stream. 2022 In 2022, additional output from rampup mines that opened in previous years, the start-up of new major projects and expansions, together with an improvement in the global pandemic situation, should sustain a further growth of around 3.7 percent. www.icsg.org

and Peru, which were completed by the agreement announced on 15 April with Engie Energía Perú to provide 100% renewable energy for the Quellaveco copper operation. Quellaveco is located in the Moquegua region of Peru. It is expected to produce 300,000 tonnes of copper equivalent per year in the first 10 years of operation. Anglo American has every confidence that it will deliver Quellaveco on time and on budget, with first copper production during 2022. The overall investment with partner Mitsubishi is between US$ 5 and 5.3 billion. Anglo American’s overall copper production y-o-y in Q1 (NR 22 April) increased by 9% to 160,300 tonnes. www.angloamerican.com

Kola MMC investment plans released MAR 18 - Nornickel has allocated US$ 14 million (4 billion roubles) for the upgrade of production assets at Kola MMC in 2021. More than 6,800 units of various equipment will be delivered to the company’s divisions most of it will go to the Severny mine. A large-scale delivery of primary and auxiliary self-propelled equipment is expected in the second half of 2021. There is a great amount of work to be done in the Chemical and Metallurgical Workshop. Nornickel has allocated about 300 M roubles for the purchase of new press filters, a reactor, and other equipment. In summer 2021, the company expects to renew equipment at its unique carbonyl nickel department. Expenses for the replacement of high-pressure receivers will amount to 118 M roubles. More than US$ 756 k (54 M roubles) will be allocated for the purchase of personal gas analysers for production personnel at Kola MMC. The

systematic renewal of machinery and equipment is a crucial part of improving productivity and safety of production processes at Nornickel’s Kola Division. APR 19 - In 1Q21, copper output at Nornickel’s operations in Russia decreased 20% y-o-y to 91 kt. The decrease was attributed to the reduction of feed owing to the temporary suspension of the mines, the Norilsk Concentrator operating at a reduced capacity and the shutdown on March 20th of the metallurgical shop at Kola MMC. Immediately after the shop’s closure, Nornickel began cleaning up the production facilities and the metallurgical units from the coppercontaining materials. This work will last throughout 2021, and the dismantling of production facilities and buildings will start in 2022. www.velesstroy.com www.nornickel.com

Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 APR 27 - The Quebrada Blanca mine is located in Tarapacá Region of northern Chile at an elevation of 4,400 metres, approximately 240 km southeast of the city of Iquique and 1,500 km from Santiago. The Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 (QB2) project is focused on secondary copper extraction from previous leach piles. It passed the half way point in April. The project includes the construction of a new 140,000

tpd concentrator, tailings storage facility, concentrate pipeline, water supply pipeline, desalination plant, concentrate filtration plant and port to produce copper and molybdenum concentrates. It expects to achieve 300,000 t of copper equivalent production per year for the first five years of mine life. First production is expected in the second half of 2022. The project’s capital cost estimate

remains at US$ 5.2 billion, with US$ 450-500 million of additional COVID-19 related costs disclosed so far. For example, the Concentrator Camp currently includes COVID expansion modules. The Remote Integrated Operations Centre is located in Santiago. Mine operator Teck Resources still expects to produce 270 - 290 kt copper in 2021. www.teck.com

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In brief… APR 21 BHP Olympic Dam copper production for the nine months to 31 March increased by 25 % to 155 kt, reflecting improved smelter performance and stability. The 55 kt March 2021 figure was the highest for five years. The new refinery crane is in the final stages of commissioning. A major smelter maintenance campaign is planned for the first half of 2022. www.bhp.com

MAY 10 The BHP Foundation will donate US$ 2 million to the Indian Red Cross Society as they battle the COVID-19 pandemic. This donation will help them secure and deliver critical medical supplies and services, including the distribution of oxygen concentrators and cylinders, vaccination programs and hygiene materials, to those most at risk. www.bhp.com

APR 14 Zijin Mining Group has been asked to stop work at the RTB Bor copper mine due to non-compliance with environmental standards. The company has been ordered to halt work on the Jama copper mine shaft and to complete a wastewater treatment plant at the mine to avoid polluting the River Pek, a tributary of the Danube. An April 30 deadline was given. www.reuters.com

MAY 11 The SHFE warehouse copper inventory (7 May) was 208,473 t, whilst Shanghai International Energy Echange (INE) held a further 68,058 t. The LME and COMEX (10 May) held 118,875 t and 64,673 t respectively. The LME currently aims to publish the outcomes of its Discussion Paper on Market Structure (incl. Ring trading) on or around 8 June 2021. www.lme.com

MAR 31 President Biden unveiled a more than US$ 2 trillion infrastructure and economic recovery package, including spending on transportation infrastructure (US$ 621 bn), and water systems and electrical grids (US$ 300 bn). The proposal includes a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers by 2030. www.cnbc.com

APR 29 MMC Norilsk Nickel has released its sustainability figures in 2020. The Nornickel injury rate has fallen to a record level. The Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) reduced further to 0.21 per 1,000,000 man-hours in 2020 from 0.32 in 2019. The total number of occupational accidents decreased 32% y-o-y. Zero injuries remains a top strategic goal. www.nornickel.com

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Innovating for future generations Phillip Mackey provides a detailed review into the history and operation of the outstanding Aurubis Hamburg copper plant To the question “How do you become one of the best-run plants in the world?” the answer given by any Smelter Site Manager today is invariably “Good design in all plant areas, excellent operations and maintenance with very skilled supervisory and operating personnel.” The Aurubis Hamburg Primary Smelter, admirably fits this description. Reference has been made in these pages on the factors described by Arie de Geus in his book “The Living Company” as influencing the overall strength of an enterprise and the characteristics of a truly successful company. Aurubis, formerly Norddeutsche Affinerie, also fits well into this category and has done so for over 150 years. In the beginning The company’s history dates back to 1866 with the founding of Norddeutsche Affinerie AG and consolidation of the early smelting and refining facilities originally located at Elbstrasse in Hamburg. The plant was moved to the more spacious areas on Peute Island in the Elbe River in 1908 - the present location - accompanied by a number of plant expansions. The history of the Hamburg plant features a number of very significant metallurgical innovations and milestones - too numerous to cover them all here except to note a few key ones - and a winning culture that strives to be the best, starting in the late 1800s. For example, in 1876 Norddeutsche Affinerie was the first company outside of the United Kingdom to install the then new electrolytic copper refining process that had been pioneered at Pembrey in the UK in 1869. The Hamburg plant was similar but somewhat larger compared to that at the Pembrey facility. Hamburg later expanded the tankhouse considerably and today it is one of the largest in the world. Copper electrorefining was perfected at Norddeutsche by Dr. Emil Wohlwill. He also invented a new process for gold and silver, an approach still used to this day. Dr. Wohlwill also experimented with reagent additions to the copper electrolyte and was the first to use chloride additions to help smooth out the copper deposit. All refineries today worldwide continue to use chloride additions, and still follow the main principles originally developed at these two plants. Early plant Facilities were soon in place to also treat copper scrap in addition to copper concentrate feed, and a lead smelting plant was also built. In the late 1930s, the annual capacity of the plant was about 95,000 of electrolytic copper and 36,000 tonnes of lead. By-products included gold, silver, nickel, tin, bismuth, cobalt and a number of metal salts. An acid plant was installed in the 1930s and was one of the first acid plants installed in a smelter anywhere in the world. Following rebuilding after World War 2 - bombing had destroyed parts of the plant in 1944 - Germany experienced huge economic growth and the Hamburg plant undertook a number of expansions.

The double contact (double absorption) acid plant at dusk. Photo: Aurubis

By this time, copper concentrates sourced from all over the world were roasted in a number of multiple hearth roasters and smelted in a reverberatory furnace, producing a copper matte containing about 45% Cu. This matte was converted in one of two Peirce-Smith converters. Blister copper was processed to anodes for the copper refinery. This facility had also been expanded, and due to space limitations, a number of cells were built on the second floor of the tankhouse - likely the only plant with such an arrangement. The flash era In the late 1960s, with the plant eying a further expansion to meet the growing copper demand, alternative smelting technologies were evaluated - including electric furnace smelting of roasted concentrate and Outokumpu (now Outotec) flash smelting. At this point there were over eight new flash furnaces operating worldwide and this technology was wisely chosen for Hamburg. The flash furnace was built in a new area of the site. The plant, commissioned in March 1972, had a design capacity of 400,000 tonnes of 27% Cu conc. /yr, or a smelting rate of 50 t conc. /hr, producing 60% Cu matte. The facility included a 2 MW (nominal), 10 m dia. electric furnace for cleaning the flash furnace slag; converter slag was returned to the flash furnace. A new double contact (double absorption) acid plant was also built - likely the first or one of the first double absorption acid plants at a copper smelter. Concentrate receipts were handled at the nearby port and brought to the plant by barge. Blending facilities were also improved. In operation, copper concentrates were dried in a new, 30 m long kiln dryer fired with natural gas, with dry concentrate conveyed to storage bins located above the flash furnace. Initially the flash furnace operated with 540 oC preheated air and the reaction shaft was cooled - as at many flash furnaces of the era - with a falling water Copper Worldwide Vol 11 No 2

Aerial view of Aurubis Hamburg. Photo: Aurubis

film. Later oxygen enrichment was introduced and shell cooling elements replaced the water film cooling. Off-gases were cooled in a waste heat boiler rated at 49 t steam (60 bar)/hr. It was reported that cleaned slag at the electric furnace contained about 0.65% Cu. Tapped slag was cast in small ladles and after crushing was used for construction and for river dikes. At the time, there were still two 4.25 m by 11 m Peirce-Smith converters installed, with one blowing, and one on standby. Oxygen enrichment to about 25% O2 was used to assist in skull and scrap smelting. Blister copper was handled in two rotary anode furnaces with natural gas used for poling. It is understood that the reverberatory furnace remained in use for some time. By the mid-1990s, concentrate throughput at the flash furnace had been increased to 70 tonnes of conc./hr, or about 600,000 t conc./ yr, primarily by the use of oxygen enrichment supplied by a 240 t/d oxygen plant, along with a number of other plant improvements. Environmental enhancements introduced included secondary hooding on the converters and side charging at the hood for scrap, a new concentrate storage building (100,000 t capacity), improved performance of the waste heat boiler, gas cleaning

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of dryer off-gas and also anode furnace off-gas, plus improved fugitive gas collection and control. Additional acid plant capacity was installed with overall sulphur capture at the time of over 99.3%. Water collection at the site and water treatment was also upgraded. Improvements in emission control and environmental protection had become integral at Aurubis to any proposal to increase plant throughput and anode production. Further improvements A new tankhouse based on the Isa system was built on a new site next to the flash furnace building in the West area of the site in 1990. The former tankhouse was closed. With a nominal capacity of 172,000 t Cu/yr. (600 cells), an additional 480 cells were soon added to bring the capacity to over 300,000 t Cu/yr. Converter capacity was increased, now with 3 Peirce-Smith converters, 4.6 m in diameter and 12.2 m in length and fitted with automatic punching. New converter blowers rated at 52,000 Nm3/hr and 1.5 bar were also installed which greatly improved converter operation, now with two converters blowing at a time and one on standby. Norddeutsche further expanded in the 2000s with the acquisition of number of operations in Europe including: Huttenwerke Kayser AG in Lunen, Germany in 2000, the Belgium copper producer Cumerio in 2008, the smelter in Pirdop, Bulgaria, the wire rod plants at Olen and Avellino and the speciality metals plant at Yverdon-lesBains in Switzerland. Following these acquisitions, stockholders decided to re-name the Company “Aurubis AG” - the new name having being derived from the Latin terms “aurum” for gold and “rubrum” for red - in effect, “red gold”, reflecting the extraordinary value of copper. In 2010, it was reported the plant treated 1,079,000 t of copper concentrates (this included copper from copper scrap), and acid production was 1,052,000 t. Current activities At the 2016 Capital Market Day presentation on the occasion of its 150 year Anniversary, Aurubis highlighted a number of accomplishments and further plans. These were further elaborated in the Capital Market Day 2018 presentation which also detailed the Vison 2025 strategy.

Environmental Senator Jens Kerstan inaugurated a 10 MW power-tosteam plant at Aurubis Hamburg with CEO Roland Harings in August 2019. Photo: Aurubis

A proposed bath smelting plant as well as the related copper leaching and electro-winning plants at the Hamburg and Olen sites was discussed, having a capex level of EUR 320 million. This project was later shelved following the acquisition of the Metallo Group of Belgium in June 2020. This acquisition was seen as a key component in the implementation of Aurubis’ multimetal and recycling strategy. For the fiscal year 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020, the Hamburg facility reported the production of 384,000 t of cathode copper and the treatment of 1,026,000 t of copper concentrates. Environmental control at the Hamburg plant is excellent. For example, sulphur dioxide emissions at 4 kg of SO2/t of copper produced are amongst the lowest in the industry. Similarly, emissions such as copper in dust (13.6 g/t of copper produced) are also very low. A program to fully collect low level fugitive gas emissions from smelter roof opening is to be completed by 2023. Innovation continues The Hamburg plant has a long history with many successful “firsts” in the industry. As this article was nearing completion, a very significant new “first” was announced by Aurubis on 27 May 2021. At the end of May, Aurubis commenced

Between 1972 and 2009 a 175% increase in concentrate smelting capacity has been achieved

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testing the use of hydrogen as a replacement of natural gas for copper de-oxidation in the anode furnace. The technical literature in copper includes several reported laboratory tests demonstrating the application of hydrogen at the laboratory scale for the gaseous de-oxidation of anode copper, but this will be the first use of hydrogen for this purpose at a large copper plant. When commercialised, Aurubis reported that the new process will reduce CO2 emissions at the facility by some 6,200 t CO2/yr. It is estimated by the writer that the plant will require roughly about 1,100 t H2/yr reported to be supplied by Air Liquide. Further, it is estimated that if production is by electrolysis, the hydrogen will require 62,000 MWh/yr of electricity; this corresponds to roughly 10 MWh/t CO2 saved. The Aurubis press release noted that hydrogen generated from renewable sources is a sustainable energy source. It is considered that eventually the hydrogen for Hamburg would likely be generated from such sources to avoid carbon dioxide emissions from the hydrogen electricity requirement. Overall, a significant first step towards carbon reduction using hydrogen and another important first for Aurubis. www.aurubis.com

References P. Willbrandt, Operational Results of Norddeutsche Affinerie Copper Smelter, The Paul E. Queneau International Symposium Extractive Metallurgy of Copper, Nickel and Cobalt Volume II: Copper and Nickel Smelter Operations, pp 1361 - 1376, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (1993). H. Wiehler, Current Status of Production and Expansion Projects of Primary Smelter Aurubis Hamburg, paper at EMC 2011. Cu 150.0-Tradition, Expertise, Innovation, 1866-2016: The History of the Copper Group, Aurubis AG, Hamburg, 2016. Aurubis Capital Market Day 2016 presentation, Aurubis AG, Hamburg, Germany. Aurubis Capital Market Day 2018 presentation, Aurubis AG, Hamburg, Germany. Hamburg Plant: Emission Facts & Figures, Factsheet February 2019, Aurubis AG, Hamburg, Germany; Environmental Protection in the Aurubis Group - Hamburg and Lunen sites, 2017, Aurubis AG, Hamburg, Germany. Aurubis-First copper anodes produced with hydrogen, Press release, 27 May 2021, Aurubis AG, Hamburg.

Author: Dr Phillip John Mackey is an internationally recognised expert in the production of non-ferrous metals, especially copper and nickel smelting and refining.