Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3 issue

JULY/AUGUST 2018

VOLUME 8 | 3

See Directory pp25-27

We help transfer wind power to your bathroom.

Aurubis copper is at work wherever electricity flows.

Renewable energies can’t function without copper.

About 200 km of wound copper wire is used in a wind turbine’s generator alone. Power lines also contain copper produced by Europe’s largest copper producer, Aurubis. We give our best every day for a reliable and environmentally friendly electricity supply.

Discover the world of copper at www.aurubis.com

n Key Words: China on top Cobalt times n News: Aurubis buys Wieland invests Demand progress Quellaveco n Copper Semis: Poland with Jonathan Barnes Southwire success OCM Kirov n Spotlight: ALTA 2018 full review n Recycling: ICSG Recyclables China changes n Smelting: Dongying Fangyuan is progressive in process n Plant Integration: PolyMet portfolio n Processing Update: From Glencore to Escondida n Events: Copper Cobalt Peru Summit Asia Copper Week n Contracts: MKM is sold Project updates Rönnskär leach n Supplier Directory In search of added value ISSN 2046-9438

www.copperworldwide.com

COPPER PLANTS

Copper strip

Copper tubes

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Close tolerances, top quality and efficient processes

more than 50 years. Our integrated solutions are

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SMS group GmbH Eduard-Schloemann-Strasse 4 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany Phone: +49 211 881-0 Fax: +49 211 881-4902 communications@sms-group.com

www.sms-group.com

CONTENTS | 1

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Key Words

3

China’s scrap embargo; The cobalt boom; Quiet time for refiners

News

4

Aurubis nets Giessdraht; Wieland in Chicago investment; Boel departs Aurubis

as FRP goes to Wieland; Progress in Indonesia for FCX; Aircraft sales remain strong; Copper demand drivers; Quellaveco project ratified; Latest market statistics

Spotlight

8

ALTA 2018 conference discusses progress in Perth

Hydrometallurgy

9

ALTA hears from experts on copper-cobalt circuits

SMS group slag cleaning furnace schematic. Photo: SMS group (see Pages 14,15)

Inside this issue PROCESSING UPDATE

COPPER SEMIS

10,11 16

Jonathan Barnes explores Poland’s place in Europe

Latest Southwire rod mill order; OCM Kirov ceremony for

Danieli Fröhling mill; Further SMS group solutions

Dr Kathy Sole presenting on hydrometallurgy. Photo: ALTA 2018

Contracts & People

20

KME buys MKM; Ongoing KGHM production projects; Teck on Quebrada

Blanca Phase 2; Katanga Mining resolves Kamoto financing; Danieli Fröhling line for Wieland; Leaching plant for Rönnskär; Otto Junker upgrades Aurubis Finland strip furnace

EVENTS

22

12-13 &19

The Dongying Fangyuan approach

is celebrated by Phillip Mackey

Copper Week 2018

Supplier Directory Looking to add business value?

28

Mina Justa close to implementation; ICSG gives refined stats to April;

2018 PRIMARY WALLMAP This will now be published with

Front Cover PolyMet Solutions brings together

RECYCLING AND SCRAP PROCESSING

18

by hpl-Group

CW Vol 8 No 4 issue

PLANT INTEGRATION

14-15 & 25

sees output rise; First Quantum second

quarter figures; Innovative coil handling

Escondida is a heap leach reference

SMS group and METTOP expertise

Updates on Copper Cobalt Africa 2018; Peru Metals and Mining Summit; Asia

25-27

PRIMARY SMELTING

24

ICSG NE Asia copper use study; Glencore

ICSG 2018 Recyclables Survey; UrbanGold for e-waste processing;

China scrap import changes Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

The “We help transfer wind power to your bathroom” ad on the front cover impressively shows how Aurubis copper, with its excellent conductivity, enables the production of wind power. Copper is ideal for use in electrical applications, electronics and telecommunications due to its high conductivity. The increasing interconnectedness of our offices, rising expectations for telecommunications at home and high standards of safety and comfort in today’s automotive engineering ensure that copper demand will continue to grow. www.aurubis.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: 8 Date:

Issue No: 03 July/August 2018

Publisher: Chris K Holding BSc BEng Publishing Consultant: John Clarke Contributing Editors: Phillip Mackey Jonathan Barnes IT/www Contact: webmaster@copperworldwide.com Managing Director: Chris K Holding

PAGE NO

ALTA 2018.................................................. 1, 8, 9

First Quantum................................................... 24

Otto Junker........................................................ 21

ALTA Metallurgical Services........................ 8, 9

Fluor Corporation............................................. 28

Outotec ................................................................ 4

AMETEK........................................................... 21

Freeport-McMoran Inc....................................... 5

Peru Metals and Mining Summit (CRU)....... 22

Glencore Plc...................................................... 24

P. J. Mackey........................................... 12, 13, 19

Anglo American.............................................. 5, 7 14th Asia Copper Conference (MB Events)... 22 7th Asia Copper Week...................................... 22 Aurubis............................................. 1, 4, 5, 11, 21 Ausenco.............................................................. 28

BHP...................................................................... 8

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 in writing to the above address, or by e-mail to office@copperworldwide.com Reprints of articles and advertisements are available, allow 28 days for delivery. PDF pages available by e-mail. Prices on application to the publisher.

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PAGE NO

OCM Kirov........................................................ 16

Published by

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.

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COMPANY NAME

Dundee Precious Metals.................................... 5

Beijing Antaike Information Development.... 3, 18

Tel: +44(0)7731 784798 e-mail: office@copperworldwide.com www.copperworldwide.com

PAGE NO

ABB.................................................................... 21

copper@atrium5.plus.com

Metallic Media Ltd 5 Dennis Road Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3NF United Kingdom

COMPANY NAME

Grupo Mexico................................................ 5, 20 hpl-Group.......................................................... 24 Hutmen SA........................................................ 11 International Copper Association..................... 5 International Copper Study Group.....................

PolyMet Solutions........................... 14, 15, 16, 25 Primetals Technologies.................................... 16 Quellaveco............................................................ 7 Rio Tinto.............................................................. 5 SAIMM............................................................... 22

.................................................4, 7, 8, 18, 24, 28 SMS group................................... 1, 14, 15, 16, 25 J. Barnes................................................... 3, 10, 11 Boeing................................................................... 5 Boliden....................................................... 4, 7, 21 CESCO............................................................... 22 CNIA.................................................................. 22 CONTIROD.......................................... 10, 15, 16

Jiangsu ZGR...................................................... 16 Katanga Mining................................................ 20 Kathryn C. Sole Consulting............................... 8 KGHM.......................................................... 10, 20 KME Group....................................................... 20

Southern Copper Corporation (SCC)............. 20 Southwire Company......................................... 16 Sulphur 2018 (CRU Events).............................. 4 Teck Resources.................................................. 20 TMS ............................................................. 13, 19 Upcast................................................................. 10

Copper Cobalt Africa 2018.............................. 22

LME................................................................... 21

CRU Events....................................................... 22

Matmatch............................................................. 5

UrbanGold................................................... 18, 25

Danieli Fröhling......................................... 16, 21

Metal Bulletin................................................... 22

Vedanta Resources............................................ 28

Deutsche Giessdraht........................................... 4

METTOP......................................... 14, 15, 18, 25

Wieland-Werke............................................. 4, 21

Dongying Fangyuan............................. 12, 13, 19

MKM.................................................................. 20

World Bureau of Metal Statistics...................... 7

Advertisers COMPANY NAME

PAGE NO

COMPANY NAME

PAGE NO

COMPANY NAME

PAGE NO

Alex Stewart International............................... 27

hpl-Neugnadenfelder........................................ 26

Primetals Technologies.................................... 27

Asia Copper Conference (Metal Bulletin)..... 23

Kopar.................................................................. 25

RHI Magnesita...................................... 12, 13, 26

Aurubis...................................................... Cover 1

Kumera Corporation............................ 25, 26, 27

Saint Gobain...................................................... 27

China Nonferrous Metals Processing............... 6

Küttner GmbH...................................... 19, 26, 27

Schenck Process.......................................... 26, 27

Combilift............................................................ 26

Metalex......................................................... 25, 27

SMS group (PolyMet)..................Cover 2, 25, 26

Continuus Properzi.................................. Cover 4

Mettop.................................................... 25, 26, 27

Southwire Company......................................... 17

Danieli Froehling....................................... 26, 27

MINO................................................................. 27

TSK..................................................................... 25

HarbisonWalker International........................ 26

Peru Metals and Mining Summit (CRU)..... Cover 3

UrbanGold................................................... 25, 26

Holton Crest...................................................... 25

PolyMet Solutions.............................. Cover 1, 26

Weir Minerals.................................................... 26

There is much optimism about 2018 – Discover the ISSUES affecting copper now!

The next Vol 8 No 4 issue of Copper Worldwide is published in November 2018. Scheduled features include Secondary Smelting, Thermal Processing / Pyrometallurgy, Quality Control and Analysis, Focus on Rolling / Technology, Managerial Review, Asia Copper Sector Study, Canada versus Russia, 2018 Primary Wallmap (re-scheduled), Profiles and Reviews, and more.

Supporting website www.copperworldwide.com features issue summaries and event updates. Thank you to all advertisers once again. All correspondence welcome.

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

KEY WORDS | 3

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Chinese scrap imports in the mix In 2017, China imported 3.557 Mt of copper scrap and waste (in gross weight terms) valued at US$ 9,152 million. Looking at the average traded price, and comparing that against the annual LME copper price last year, the implied copper content of this scrap was just under 42%, yielding total copper scrap imports of 1.485 Mt. This figure represented a healthy 17% (or 216 kt) increase from the 1.270 Mt imported during 2016. However, in the middle of 2017 China announced that it would henceforth be steadily restricting imports of ‘Category VII’ scrap, which have a low copper content and higher by-product mix, to limit imports of ‘waste’ materials. So what impact has this had on China’s imports of scrap, and imports of other forms of copper, so far in 2018?

In the first half of 2018, Chinese customs reported a severe 38% contraction in the gross weight imports of copper scrap to 1.143 Mt, compared to 1.852 Mt in the same period a year ago. But this is only half the story, as the key factor is the extent to which the significant (though not complete) reduction in Category VII imports has affected the change in implied percentage copper content. Based on the assessment of average traded prices to date in 2018, it is estimated that the average copper content has jumped from just under 42% to just over 57%. Even with this dramatic improvement, the year-on-year comparison in the imported volume of contained copper in scrap is still very adverse. The H1 2018 volumes were only 653 kt, around 120 kt down on the 773 kt imported in H1 2017. If this trend were repeated in the second half of the year, then there is a 240 kt void to fill in Chinese copper scrap imports in 2018 verses 2017.

The situation was further exacerbated by the China Certification and Inspections Group North America USA branch declaring that it would temporarily stop issuing processing applications and issuing certificates for pre-shipment inspections from 4 May to 4 June. These subsequently resumed on 8 June. This was significant because the USA is China’s leading source of scrap copper, followed by Hong Kong (mainly transshipped cargoes), Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Mexico.

To compensate for the shortfall in imported scrap, imports of other forms of copper raw materials have surged during the first half of 2018, relative to the year-earlier period. Imports of concentrates leapt by 16% to 2,584 kt from 2,222 kt; imports of anode and blister rose 15% to 438 kt from 381 kt; imports of copper alloys surged 37% to 30 kt from 22 kt; imports of refined copper advanced 21% to 1,860 kt from 1,544 kt; while imports of copper and copper alloy semi-manufactures edged up just 1% to 254 kt from 252 kt. These increases in raw material imports enabled Chinese refined copper production to still rise by 11.5% in H1 2018 to 4,406 kt, according to the National Statistics Office.

China has recently stated that it will implement a total ban on Category VII imports in 2019, forcing the recycling industry to further process material offshore before exporting to the mainland. This constraint is also likely to ensure a continuing healthy appetite for imports of concentrates, anode and blister, copper alloys and refined copper by China in 2019.

Author: Jonathan Barnes

The new cobalt power dynamic Up to now, cobalt supply has depended on the markets for copper and nickel. In 2017, around 69 percent of the world’s cobalt was mined as a copper by-product and 29 percent as a nickel by-product.

Cobalt consumption is expected to exceed 122,000 tonnes this year, up from about 75,000 t in 2011, and the level is projected to rise by between 8% to 10% a year, according to CRU. Also the price is now at about US$ 32 /lb, compared with about US$ 20 /lb in early 2011, so its status as a by-product has really started to change. About 300 companies worldwide are now on the hunt for cobalt deposits. Wood Mackenzie Cobalt-based mining is coming (INSET Cobalt containing seam). calculated that 49 percent of global cobalt demand of Congo (DRC), where most of the world’s cobalt was from the battery sector in 2017, a year which is found. However, the new DRC Mining Code was signed into law in June, removing existing also saw a 127% price gain.

Although increased production is likely to protections, imposing windfall profits tax and help meet demand in the next few years, analysts increasing royalties, which could affect output. say shortages loom as soon as 2022. Glencore China recently signed an agreement with is boosting production in the Democratic Republic Glencore to take more than 50,000 t of cobalt

over the next three years for its battery materials production. The figure represents around a third of Glencore’s scheduled production during this period, as well as almost half of all the cobalt that was produced in the world last year.

China is expected to remain the world’s dominant player for refining cobalt, even as new facilities start operating in Europe, North America and elsewhere in Asia.

In February, the US added cobalt to a list of 35 minerals deemed critical to the economy. Mining companies are staking claims at sites in Montana and Alaska. Missouri Cobalt plans to start producing cobalt from an old lead mine in Madison County, Missouri this summer.

In Idaho, eCobalt, previously called Formation Metals, expects production to start towards the end of 2019, whilst First Cobalt hopes to get its mine in Idaho operating in about three years. www.internationalbanker.com www.bbc.co.uk

Quieter second half for China refiners According to preliminary Antaike estimates, Chinese domestic refined copper production was about 4.27 million tonnes in the first half of 2018, whilst net imports were 1.45 Mt and supply was 5.72 Mt. In the same period, the consumption was 5.21 Mt, and the excess supply was 510,000 tonnes. The large excess was mainly due to the higher than expected output and import volume. There is still uncertainty in the supply of copper concentrates in the second half of the year, but it is still unclear how much impact it can cause. Initial judgments

still have no real impact on refined copper production. However, in the second half of 2018, some smelters have maintenance scheduled.

Domestic refined copper production was relatively large in the second half of 2017. Whilst new capacity is being put into production, the second half addition is estimated to give a total output for 2018 of 8.5 million tonnes. www.antaike.com Note: For the latest refined copper market figures, see Page 28

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

4 | NEWS In brief…

According to China Customs data, China imported 442,000 t of unwrought copper and copper semis in April 2018, a 47% increase year-on-year.

Cumulative imports from January to April were 1.674 Mt, up by 15.4% comparatively. Similarly, copper concentrate imports were 1.553 Mt in April, and 6.229 Mt from January to April, a 9.3% rise. www.antaike.com

UK Prime Minister Theresa May promised extra investment for the aerospace industry in July, just weeks after Airbus threatened to reduce its UK presence because of Brexit disruption.

The UK aviation sector generates turnover of about GBP 60 billion and supports almost a million jobs. British aerospace exports alone were worth GBP 30 bn in 2017. www.bbc.co.uk

Peter Mörtlund has been appointed as General Manager for Boliden Bergsöe, effective from September 2018. He will also be a member of the management team at Boliden Smelters.

Peter is currently Commercial Director within special product division at LKAB and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Luleå University of Technology.

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

Aurubis completes acquisition of Deutsche Giessdraht The German ‘Bundeskartellamt’ (federal anti-trust office) issued authorisation for the planned acquisition of the outstanding shares (40%) of Deutsche Giessdraht GmbH by Aurubis AG on 13 July.

The competition authority’s consent is a prerequisite for completing the acquisition. The closing took place on 31 July 2018. On 19 January, Aurubis and Codelco Kupferhandel GmbH entered into a purchase agreement for the acquisition of all shares of Deutsche Giessdraht in Emmerich an Rhein by Aurubis. The parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

The complete acquisition of the shares is part of Aurubis’ strategic reorientation and aligns with the company’s intention to be active in industries of the future with its products. With this step, Aurubis is increasing its wire rod capacity and, accordingly, adjusting this

capacity to its rising production of copper cathodes, the preliminary product for wire rod. Together with the Group’s other three wire rod facilities, Aurubis is therefore expanding its delivery reliability further.

For all customers who source the copper wire rod brand Rhein-Rod from Deutsche Giessdraht, there

Wieland invests in Chicago tube plant

www.boliden.com

The Sulphur + Sulphuric Acid 2018 Key Themes have been announced.

They include market outlooks, response to the IMO 2020 deadline, and the evolving energy mix.

The technical themes will be dualstreamed and cover technology, process, equipment and materials innovations, in addition to casestudy operational experience papers.

The Deutsche Giessdraht plant is situated in Emmerich an Rhein.

Investment in Wieland Chicago production is underway.

As part of its global growth strategy, Wieland Group says it will invest US$ 20 million in its business for enhanced surface tubes in Wheeling (Chicago), IL, over the course of the next 12 months. A new state of the art production facility - adjacent to current operations - will double

Wieland’s production capacity for enhanced surface tubes in the U.S. With the new facility, scheduled to be completed by spring of 2019, Wieland can serve the entire demand and expected market growth of its partners in the HVAC industry and related market segments in North America. Ivan Di Stefano, Managing Director of the Wieland Thermal Solutions plant in Wheeling, IL, is pleased that the investment will enable Wieland to provide the highest quality product, short lead times and outstanding service to its customers. www.wieland.com

www.events.crugroup.com/sulphur

ICSG July 2018 Copper Bulletin independent consultants averaged figures suggest China’s bonded stocks declined by around 8,000 t in Jan-Apr 2018 (eq. 2017: +140,000 t). June end-total copper stocks held at LME (+44%), COMEX (+6%) & SHFE (+75%) combined rose 39% from Dec 2017 to 756,742 t. Average June LME cash price was US$ 6,954.79 /t. www.icsg.org

Outotec has agreed with Boliden on the design and delivery of an absorption section for the sulphuric acid plant at the Rönnskär smelter able to process the future gas volume from the upstream smelting process with high energy recovery. Typically orders of this size and scope are valued at over EUR 10 million. Outotec’s deliveries will take place in H2 2019. www.outotec.com

Wieland expands global production The Wieland -Werke AG and Aurubis AG contract regarding the acquisition of Aurubis’ Flat Rolled Products segment by the Wieland Group, based in Ulm (Germany), will resolve Wieland’s current capacity constraints in Europe, add an integrated manufacturing footprint as basis for further growth in the U.S., and support broadening the group’s sales and service network across Asia. Upon the announcement, Dr. Er win Mayr, CEO of the Wieland Group, added “customers are increasingly demanding globally consistent product supplies, technical support and related services. With this acquisition, we will be able to better support our customers’ growth plans in all major regions and take the combined group’s technical capabilities to a new level”

With sales of around 500 kt annually, the Wieland Group is the world’s leading supplier of semi-finished products made of copper and copper alloys. For the production of strip, sheets, bars, rods, wire, tubes and sections, mainly rec ycling materials supplemented by new metals are used in the company-owned foundries. The 15 production sites spread over three continents ensure a high level of reliable and on-time deliveries with maximum f l e x ib ili t y a n d s h o r t s u p p l y ch ain s. The Wiela nd G roup is family- owned, with 7,0 0 0 employees around the world a s well a s strong social and environmental awareness, short decision-making processes and a focus on long-term sustainability.

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

will initially be no changes. The existing 2018 supply contracts will not be affected by the transaction.

Beginning in 2019, Aurubis will assume sole marketing of the RheinRod brand. Deutsche Giessdraht produces approximately 240,000 tonnes of copper wire rod annually and has about 110 employees. www.aurubis.com

Boel leaves Aurubis on FRP Segment sale Aurubis AG and Wieland-Werke AG have signed a contract regarding the sale of Segment Flat Rolled Products (FRP) on 29 March 2018 to Wieland. Execution of the sales contract is subject to approval by the federal antitrust authorities.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The sale of the strip business significantly strengthens Aurubis’ strategic orientation towards multi-metal business, which was announced in December.

Dr. Stefan Boel, Executive Board member responsible for this segment, left Aurubis on 31 July 2018 by amicable and mutual consent with the Supervisory Board. “In his role as an Executive Board member since 2008, Dr. Boel has demonstrated great commitment, particularly within the scope of the Cumerio integration and the restructuring of the strip business, as well as the subsequent sale. We thank Dr. Boel for the work he has done on behalf of the company and wish him all the best for the future,” emphasised Prof. Dr. Fritz Vahrenholt, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Aurubis. www.aurubis.com

Wieland supports the international growth of its customers and thus meets its promise of ‘Empowering Success. Globally.’. www.wieland.com

NEWS | 5

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Prospect of stability for FCX in Indonesia Freeport-McMoRan Inc. announced on 12 July that it has entered into a Heads of Agreement with the Indonesian state-owned enterprise PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) and PT Freeport Indonesia’s (PT-FI) joint venture partner Rio Tinto. Under the terms of the non-binding Heads of Agreement, Inalum will acquire for a cash consideration of US$ 3.85 billion all of Rio Tinto’s interests associated with its Joint Venture with PT-FI, and 100 percent of FCX’s interests in PT Indocopper Investama (PT-

II), which owns 9.36 percent of PT-FI. Following completion of the transaction, Inalum’s share ownership will approximate 51 percent of PT-FI (subject to an agreement between shareholders to replicate the Joint Venture economics), and FCX’s ownership will approximate 49 percent.

At closing, Rio Tinto will receive US$ 3.5 billion, and FCX will receive US$ 350 million, in cash proceeds from Inalum.

The transaction is expected to close during the second half of

2018, subject to the negotiation and documentation of definitive agreements, including purchase and sale agreements, the extension and stability of PT-FI’s long-term mining rights through 2041 in a form acceptable to FCX and Inalum, a shareholders’ agreement between FCX and Inalum providing for continuity of FCX’s management of PT-FI’s operations, and resolution of environmental regulatory matters satisfactory to the Indonesian Government, FCX and Inalum. www.fcx.com

Aircraft sales boom set to continue Boeing’s latest global industry report released on 17 July at Farnborough Airshow in the UK predicts airlines will need 42,700 aircraft over the next 20 years, up 3% on last year’s forecast. Boeing valued the sales at US$ 6.3 trillion (GBP 4.8 tn) at today’s prices. Production lines at Boeing and its European rival Airbus are already booked up for years ahead. The report also says China will pass the U.S. as the biggest air travel market within 10-15 years.

Russian airline Volga Dnepr has

committed to buying Boeing freight aircraft worth US$ 11.8 bn at list prices, while the U.S. aircraft leasing company Air Lease Corp announced a commitment to order as many as 78 Boeing single-aisle and widebody airplanes in a deal valued at US$ 9.6 bn at catalogue prices.

Demand for cargo aircraft is set to increase on the back of e-commerce, with Chinese traders and consumers accounting for the biggest single rise. Boeing’s sales forecast for the next two decades

predicts a 5% rise to 31,360 in demand for single-aisle aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families, which are popular with low-cost airlines. Sales in the larger, wide-bodied bracket were expected to fall by just 140 to 8,070 aircraft over the next 20 years. Competition in this sector is expected to intensify, as Airbus has taken over Bombardier’s C-Series aircraft programme and Boeing is buying Embraer. www.bbc.co.uk

In brief…

On 14 June 2018, Anglo American announced that it had entered into a Heads of Agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation in relation to Mitsubishi’s proposed acquisition of an additional 21.9% equity interest in AAQSA, which owns the Quellaveco project, for a total consideration of US$ 600 million.

Transaction completion is expected in August 2018. www.angloamerican.com

Grupo México copper production in the second quarter of 2018 was in line with 2Q17, and had an increase of 7% compared to 1Q18, reaching 248,020 tonnes. The higher production in mining operations in Peru offset lower volumes from ASARCO due to the landslide in the Mission mine that occurred the previous quarter. www.gmexico.com

Rio Tinto mined copper production of 156.8 kt was 26 per cent higher than the second quarter of 2017, reflecting strong production at Escondida following a labour union strike in the first half of last year.

Escondida’s current labour agreement expired on 1 August 2018, and stalled negotiations could result in a new strike taking place. www.riotinto.com

Why copper demand is set to soar rising, but challenges driven by The copper market will reach antibiotic resistance mean we an estimated global value of US$ must work harder than ever 171.96 billion by 2023, according to minimise the risk of public to ‘Industry in focus: Copper’, a infection. Copper is antimicrobial material brief by Melissa Albeck, by nature. Bloomberg Markets CEO of online materials database believes public health applications Matmatch. Albeck cites six main may see a surge in demand for reasons why copper is critical to the copper by as much as 1 Mtpy future of technology and industry, A Nissan Leaf electric car. over the next 20 years. projected 600 kt in additional and our planet: • Architects are turning to copper copper demand by 2027.

• Two -third s of the copp e r components to decrease the produced since 1900 is still • A ll over the world, people environmental impact of new face severe droughts, flooding, in productive use. Few other buildings. Copper’s corrosionand contaminated water resources can match that figure. resistant properties can help supplies. Population growth, • C opper’s infinite recyclability th e s e b u il d i ng s w i th s t a n d global warming, and inefficient not only helps mitigate pollution damage from extreme weather infrastructure trends need caused by the production of conditions. countering with radical action materials such as wood and to mitigate the ongoing water Matmatch recently released an plastic, but it is also key to the crisis. As a durable, recyclable and e-book exploring the rise of copper recycling of minerals such as impermeable material, copper and the factors driving demand, silver, gold, and nickel. Every year, is critical in the delivery of clean which can be download for free 8.5 million tonnes of copper are from the Matmatch website. New water. recycled.

• A report commissioned by the • A ccording to a 2017 study by customers for copper have access the International Energy Agency to lots of information, but little in International Copper Association (IEA), sectors previously confined the way of guidance for comparing (ICA) for IDTechEx says the to fossil fuels are becoming materials and selecting the right number of roadworthy electric increasingly electrified. The result ones. The Matmatch digital platform and hybrid vehicles is expected is millions of new appliances, streamlines the material sourcing to reach 27 million by 2027.

Battery-powered vehicles require cooling systems, and vehicles in and design process, and its materials need of power, conducted and experts and specialists aim to give approximately 60 kg more copper insights into emerging applications. distributed by copper. than internal combustion engine ones, the result of which is a • G lobal life expectancy may be www.matmatch.com/supplier Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

Dundee Precious Metals’ Tsumeb operation smelted 46,400 t complex concentrate in Q2. The smelter’s 24 day annual shutdown had been deferred from March to May 2018 due to a significantly improved refractory campaign of 15 months, representing both a time and tonnage record.

The smelter is now targetting an 18 month life for the current campaign. www.dundeeprecious.com

A Memorandum of Cooperation between Aurubis and the Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU Lilyana Pavlova was signed in February. On 12 April, Aurubis Bulgaria welcomed 90 attachés of EU member states as part of their Environment and Water Council meeting. Aurubis is the leading German investor in Bulgaria. www.bulgaria.aurubis.com

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. announced 891,762 tonnes (1,966 Mlb) production for the six months to 30 June 2018, an increase of over 105,000 t on the 2017 total. This was mainly attributable to higher production and sales from its Grasberg operation in Indonesia. FCX announced the terms of the PT Freeport Indonesia Divestment in mid-July. www.fcx.com

NEWS | 7

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Anglo Board approves Quellaveco project

Anglo American Los Bronces Q2 2018 production increased by 14% to 89,700 tonnes, driven by strong mine and plant performance, and higher ore grade (0.76% vs. 0.70%). Photo: Anglo American

The Anglo American plc Board announced on 26 July it has approved the development of the world-class Quellaveco copper project located in the Moquegua region in south Peru. The project has been granted all its major permits required for construction. Quellaveco will be operated by Anglo American and will create more than 9,000 jobs during the construction phase and approximately 2,500 jobs in normal operation. Quellaveco has a Reserve Life of 30 years, with potential for further extension given its estimated additional Mineral Resources of 1.6 bn tonnes, containing 6.0 Mt of copper (at 0.37% TCu). The Quellaveco project will use open pit mining and processing by flotation to produce copper concentrate, as well as molybdenum and silver by-products.

First production of copper is expected in 2022, ramping up to full production in 2023. During the first ten years of full production Quellaveco is expected to produce approximately 300,000 tpy at a cash cost of US$ 1.05 /lb copper. Upon the announcement,

Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo American stated “Quellaveco is one of the world’s largest and most attractive undeveloped copper orebodies. We expect it to generate a real, post tax IRR of greater than 15%, with a four-year payback (from first production in 2022) and an EBITDA margin of more than 50% due to its highly competitive first quartile cash cost position. We see significant potential to expand Quellaveco beyond its current 30-year reserve life as well as to increase throughput above the initial capacity of 127,500 tonnes per day.” Cutifani went on to praise partners Mitsubishi, the strong support from host communities and at the national level in Peru.”

The development phase of the project will commence following completion of the transaction, announced in June 2018, whereby Mitsubishi Corporation will increase its interest in Anglo American Quellaveco S.A. (AAQSA), which owns the Quellaveco project, to 40%.

The development has an expected capital cost of US$ 5.0 to 5.3 billion

and will be funded on an attributable basis: 60% by Anglo American and 40% by Mitsubishi - with Mitsubishi pre-funding the first US$ 500 million of Anglo American’s share of the capital expenditure.

Local commitment

The support of local communities is the result of an innovative 18-month consultation with local authorities and community representatives from the Moquegua region. Through this ‘dialogue table’, Anglo American agreed 26 detailed and specific long-term commitments relating to water management, environmental protection and social investment. For example, by ensuring that the water required by the operation is drawn mainly from a river whose water is naturally unfit for human or agricultural use, and by collecting excess rainfall and sharing it with the communities, Anglo American is delivering on its promise of a positive water impact for local people and their livelihoods. www.angloamerican.com/quellaveco www.angloamerican.com

Increase in mine supply recorded The International Copper Study by 15. 5% m a inl y b e c a u se Group (ICSG) released preliminary production in February/March data for April 2018 world copper 2017 was constrained by a strike at Escondida, but also due to supply and demand in its July 2018 Copper Bulletin. World mine an improvement in Codelco’s production levels. production is estimated to have increased by 6.1% in the first four • Indonesian output increasing by months of 2018, with concentrate 50% because comparative output production rising by 6% and in 2017 was negatively affected by solvent extraction-electrowinning a temporary ban on concentrate (SX-EW) by 6.5%. The increase in exports that started in January world mine production, of about and ended in April 380,000 tonnes of copper, was • A n 11.5% increase in SX-EW mainly due to: production in the Democratic • C onstrained output in the Republic of Congo (DRC) and a comparative period of 2017 16% rise in Zambian mine output namely in Chile and Indonesia due to the restart of temporarily • Production in Chile increasing closed capacity

Copper surplus for January to May 2018 The copper market recorded a surplus of 176.2 kt in January to May 2018 which follows a surplus of 62 kt in the whole of 2017, according to the WBMS. Reported stocks rose during January to May and closed 258 kt higher than at the end of December 2017. These increases included net deliveries of 56 kt into LME warehouses in Asia and a further 5 kt into Dutch LME warehouses. Although the stocks held in Asia and Europe declined during May there was a net inflow of 20 kt into American warehouses. No allowance is made in the consumption calculation for unreported stock changes, particularly in the Chinese government stockpile.

World mine production in January to May 2018 was 8.5 million tonnes which was 4.6 per cent higher than in the same period in 2017. Global refined production for January to May rose 3.1 percent to 9.78 Mt compared with the previous year, with a significant increase recorded in China (up 146 kt) and Chile (up 64 kt).

Global consumption for January to May 2018 was 9.61 Mt (eq. 2017: 9.54 Mt). WBMS estimates that imports of refined copper into China rose to about 400 kt in May bringing the year to date figure to 1,490 kt. Chinese estimated demand for January to May 2018 was 4,947 kt which was 6% above the previous year’s total and represented over 51% of the global total. EU28 production fell by 0.5 per cent and demand was 1,434 kt, 3.6 per cent above the January to May 2017 total. In May 2018, refined copper production was 1,956.4 kt and consumption was 1,742.1 kt respectively. www.world-bureau.com

Romedahl leads Boliden Business Area Mines

Although no major supply disruptions occurred in the first four months of this year, overall growth was partially offset by lower output at some mines in Canada (-10%) and in the United States (-11%). After a strong increase in the last few years due to new and expanded capacity, output in Peru (the world’s second largest copper mine producing country) has levelled off. On a regional basis, mine production is estimated to have increased by around 12% in Africa, 5% in the Americas, 6.5% in Asia, 3% in Europe and 9% in Oceania.

The new President Business Area Mines and member of Boliden’s Group management is to be Stefan Romedahl. Stefan will take up his new post in the autumn of 2018 and will thereby replace Mikael Staffas, who became President and CEO from 1 June 2018. Stefan is currently Director of Division North at LKAB and his experience also includes working as the CEO of Zinkgruvan and Project Director at SKB (the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company). Stefan has also previously worked for Boliden in positions such as Mine Manager at Aitik and General Manager at Tara in Ireland.

www.icsg.org

www.boliden.com

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

8 | SPOTLIGHT - ALTA 2018

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

ALTA 2018 a huge success This year’s ALTA conference had the highest attendance on record with 377 delegates from 29 countries, a 55% increase on 2017, with 213 new people attending their first ALTA conference. They joined the many previous attendees and ALTA regulars for this world-leading annual metallurgical event.

The event was opened by Conference Founder and Chair, Alan Taylor, Managing Director and Metallurgical Consultant, ALTA Metallurgical Services. The conference commenced with the Opening Address by Dr Stephen Grocott, Chair, AMIRA International Ltd and Chief Technical Development Officer, CleanTeQ Limited (Australia), and his presentation “What Is Changing in The Global Minerals Industry Delivering Value by Leveraging Resources”, now available from ALTA Free Library.

Dr Grocott concluded that the time is right for a step-change in industry collaboration to solve our biggest challenges and capture our most attractive opportunities, though collaboration is not easy, particularly peerto-peer collaboration. He described his paper as a cloudy crystal ball look at the greatest of these challenges and the collaborative effort required, and how AMIRA International can contribute to capturing the value and mitigating the risks.

There were 26 sponsors, partners and cosponsors supporting the conference. The parallel exhibition included 34 exhibitors, and was attended by 90 visitors in addition to conference attendees, via free public passes.

Alan Taylor also gave an address entitled “A Metallurgist’s Musings, Speculations and What-ifs on Future Industry Driving Forces & Trends” to 180 dinner guests.

A record 377 delegates attended ALTA 2018. Photo: ALTA 2018

The Opening Address by Dr Stephen Grocott, Chair, AMIRA International Ltd. Photo: ALTA 2018

Sessions

The Nickel-Cobalt-Copper Sessions kicked-off with the Keynote Address by Dr Kathy Sole, Kathryn C. Sole Consulting (South Africa): “Flowsheet Options for Cobalt Recovery in African Copper-Cobalt Hydrometallurgy Circuits” (see also opposite page). Dr Sole noted that many African Copperbelt operations have traditionally focused on copper production using hydrometallurgical processes from which cobalt is recovered from copper SX raffinate.

However, due to the increasing cobalt demand, dedicated cobalt leaching, which typically requires reductive conditions, is now being considered. Her paper assessed technical and economic advantages and limitations of various approaches to the hydrometallurgical processing of cobalt in an African context.

This was followed by presentations by Carlos Risopatron, International Copper Study Group on “World Copper Mine Supply and Capacity Trends: Challenges for Copper Concentrate Miners, Smelters, Refineries, Byproducts and Waste Disposal”, and Larry Moore, FM Global (USA), on “Using Process Safety Management to Manage Risk in Mineral and Metals Processing Facilities”. Other topics included treatment of nickel-cobalt laterites, including scandium production; filtration and dry stacking of tailings; pressure leach circuit

The parallel exhibition included 34 exhibitors. Photo: ALTA 2018

equipment; nickel sulphate production using crystallisation; metal recovery by cementation, SX and EW, hydrometallurgical processing technology; materials of construction; and hydromet processing of nickel, cobalt and copper sulphides. There were also updates on the Terrafame cold climate polymetallic heap bioleaching operation, and the Mondo Minerals nickel sulphide tank bioleaching operation including the addition of a gold recovery circuit, both situated in Finland.

The Hydromet Processing of Copper, Nickel & Cobalt Sulphides Panel discussion was chaired by Lourdes Valle, Principal Process Engineer, BHP (Australia). Topics discussed included drivers and future prospects for hydromet processes; overcoming the challenges of hydromet processing of sulphides; making economics of hydromet processes competitive Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

with concentrators and smelters; addressing the increasing demand for cobalt; potential Achilles heel of hydromet processing; commercial status of heap leaching of low grade chalcopyrite ores; and the effect of availability of skilled people. A summary of the panel discussion was scheduled to be published after the conference. The inaugural ISR Symposium, organised in partnership with CSIRO Minerals, was held in parallel with the Wednesday conference sessions.

The Gold-PM sessions commenced with the Keynote Address by Dr James Wang, Deputy Executive Director, State Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Low Grade and Refractory Gold Ores, Zijin Mining Group (China) on “Treatment of Refractory Gold Ores in China”. Dr Wang reported that the treatment of refractory gold ores has been a major challenge in China’s Gold Industry for the past two decades.

The dominant pretreatment technologies adopted are roasting, bio-oxidation, and pressure oxidation. His paper presented comparisons of capex and opex, case studies and concluded that the application of these technologies depends mainly on the size of resources, gold extraction recovery, sound environmental solutions and competitive capital and operating costs. Featured projects were Karouni Gold Project, Guyana; Masbate Operation, Philippines; Mintails tailings project, South Africa; Suzdal HiTeCC facility, Kazakhstan and Çöpler POX Expansion Project update, Turkey.

The conference was book-ended by three practically-oriented technical short courses presented by Alan Taylor. “A-Z of Copper Ore Leaching”, “SX and its Application to Copper, Uranium & Nickel-Cobalt” and “Uranium Ore Processing”. The SX Fire Protection section of the SX course was presented by Larry Moore, FM Global (USA).

The three weekend short courses were very well attended by 54 people from 14 Countries.

ALTA 2018 conference proceedings and short course manuals are available from Publications.

Opening and Keynote papers are available from the ALTA Free Library, along with a selection of other conference papers. Panel discussion notes will be published as MetBytes.

Next event

The ALTA 2019 Nickel-Cobalt-Copper, Uranium-REE, ISR, Gold-PM, Lithium Conference & Exhibition will take place from 18-25 May 2019 in Perth, Australia. Abstracts for ALTA 2019 can now be submitted. www.altamet.com.au/conferences/alta-2019 www.altamet.com.au

HYDROMETALLURGY | 9

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Cobalt processing options explored The ALTA 2018 Nickel-Cobalt-Copper Sessions in Perth, WA began with the Keynote Address by Dr Kathy Sole (South Africa) entitled ‘Flowsheet options for cobalt recovery in African copper-cobalt hydrometallurgy circuits’, co-authored by John Parker, Peter Cole and Michael Mooiman.

Along with new electronic and electrical applications, the phasing out of diesel and petrol vehicles is markedly increasing demand for cobalt, nickel, lithium and graphite.

For cobalt, supply-chain considerations are important. Presently some 98% of the world’s cobalt is a byproduct of the mining of copper or nickel. The price of cobalt has increased by some 450% in the past two years, mainly due to increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries, which are in widespread use in consumer electronics and increasingly required for electric vehicles. There are limited alternatives to cobalt in these batteries at present.

Copperbelt choices

With an official production of 64,000 t in 2017, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) produces more than half of the world’s cobalt, which is eight times more than any of its closest competitors, namely Russia, Australia, Canada, Cuba, Philippines and Madagascar.

It also holds over one third of known mineral reserves containing cobalt.

African Copperbelt operations have traditionally focused on copper production, but it has now become imperative to also consider cobalt recovery from these ores.

All DRC operations carry out leaching under ambient conditions, usually by agitated tank leaching or, less often, by heap leaching. Under these conditions, acid-soluble minerals of both copper and cobalt report to the pregnant leach solution.

Most hydrometallurgical flowsheets recover cobalt from the raffinate of the lowgrade copper solvent-extraction circuit, although dedicated cobalt leaching, which typically requires reductive conditions, is also considered. Downstream purification processes include sequential precipitation with a variety of reagents, solvent extraction (SX), and ion exchange (IX). Product choices include hydroxide, carbonate, sulphate, and metal cathode.

Copper and cobalt circuits

Copper and cobalt are usually simultaneously dissolved from the oxide ores using acid and SO2 (added as sodium metabisulphite, SMBS) for reduction of Co(III) minerals.

The downstream thickener overflow advances to a high-grade copper SX circuit. The thickener underflow is fed to a countercurrent decantation (CCD) train to wash out entrained copper and cobalt values from the leach residue that reports to tailings, while the first-stage CCD overflow reports to a lowgrade copper SX circuit. The raffinate from this circuit is treated for cobalt recovery.

The most common cobalt recovery route involves the sequential precipitation of

iron, aluminium and manganese using lime at pH 3.5, followed by cobalt precipitation at pH 8.5.

Magnesia, despite being far more expensive, is widely used for cobalt precipitation in preference to lime, owing to its preferred product purity and characteristics.

A successful demonstration of proposed technologies for Location of current major cobalt operations and projects in the African Copperbelt recycling MgO and CaO considered a viable option, due mainly to could change the economics of this selection.

Cobalt purification flowsheets based on IX its limited market in Sub-Saharan Africa. and electrowinning technologies and targeting Many DRC and Zambia operations that cobalt metal production are demonstrated possess resources but are not currently to be both economically and technically producing cobalt are now considering more preferred over the typical Co(OH)2 product, ambitious flowsheets and higher-purity products. This necessitates the incorporation mainly due to logistical challenges and of multiple SX and/or, preferably, IX steps to transport costs. achieve the required purity of the electrolyte prior to the final product-recovery step.

Achieving battery-grade Chambishi Metals (Zambia) is the only Most production of battery-grade chemicals Copperbelt refinery that currently employs presently takes place in China, where the refineries are geared towards treating feed both SX and IX process steps. Flowsheet materials such as Co(OH)2 with the current refinements that minimise soluble losses to tailings and filter cakes and that recover suite and levels of impurities. Unless a very high-purity cobalt product can be costsoluble cobalt (and copper) from aqueous effectively and consistently produced, there is waste streams will also receive increasing no benefit to further upgrading at a mine site. attention in future.

There is also no advantage to producing an intermediate-grade product because the buyer Possibility of overreaching will generally not be willing to pay more to There is quite clearly a significant treat such a product through the same refining technological and philosophical gap between process as lower-grade materials. the industries of mining and metal production Most of the existing cobalt production compared with the production of batteryfacilities in the African Copperbelt (primarily grade chemicals. It is essential that primary located in the DRC) started out with cobalt producers understand the complexity ambitious project designs to produce a highof the value chain and their well-defined role value cobalt end product such as electrowon within it, to avoid implementing costly and metal. Most later opted for a phased approach, technically sophisticated flowsheets that may concentrating first on developing copper ultimately not be able to deliver the desired production capacity and producing a cobalt benefits in terms of product purity and price. intermediate product (usually Co(OH)2 There is, nevertheless, no doubt that the African Copperbelt will become the incubator produced by MgO precipitation) suitable of many novel and innovative flowsheets for sale or stockpiling, with a view to future implementation of plans towards upgraded within the next five to ten years, and that cobalt products. cobalt rather than copper will become the Legislation regarding export of concentrates main value product of many DRC operations, and intermediate products affects flowsheet driving both the mining philosophy and choice. Another factor is the issue of focus of capital expenditure. environmentally acceptable containment of sodium-bearing solutions that are generated in flowsheets employing SX upgrading steps: the This summary article is based upon Dr Kathy Sole’s tailings return solution can build up to 5-10 ALTA 2018 Keynote presentation (full document available g/L Na. These concentrations require lining of from the ALTA Free Library (www.altamet.com.au/freetailings disposal dams to prevent seepage into library/) and is published here with the permission of the environment. The alternative of removing Dr Sole and ALTA Metallurgical Services, organisers sodium by crystallising sodium sulphate is not of the ALTA Conference Series.

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

10 | COPPER SEMIS

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

Exploring Poland: a key EU producer and consumer The role of Poland in the European copper industrial landscape and the activities of its key enterprises are explored by independent analyst Jonathan Barnes Poland is the sixth largest economy in the European Union. With a Gross Domestic Product of US$ 1.118 trillion and a sizeable population of 38.5 million, GDP per capita in 2017 stood at US$ 29,300. The Polish economy has been performing well in recent years and this continues to be so in 2018. After GDP growth of 3.9% in 2015, 2.9% in 2016 and 4.6% in 2017, the economy grew at the impressive rate of 5.2% in the first quarter of 2018.

According to the government’s Investment and Development Minister Jerzy Kwiecinski, the economy is capable of maintaining growth in the 4-5% range in the years ahead.

In terms of sectors, agriculture accounts for 2.4% of the economy, industry 40.2% and services 57.4%. Germany is by far the country’s major trading partner, representing 27% of exports and 28% in imports, so if the German economy is performing well then Poland benefits accordingly.

Table 1. Polish trade in copper semi-manufactures (tonnes)

A major player

KGHM Polska Miedz, formerly the state copper company, is the sole miner, smelter and producer of refined copper in Poland. Although the corporation is today an international enterprise, with operations in North and South America, the vast majority of the company’s output (see Table 1) still comes from its domestic facilities.

Copper in concentrate output has remained fairly steady over the past five years, within the range of 419-429 kt per year, with declining ore grades the major obstacle constraining growth.

Electrolytic refined copper production was in the range of 565-577 kt between 2013 and 2015, but has since declined to 536 kt in 2016 and 522 kt in 2017. Scheduled maintenance shutdowns and occasional operational problems have been responsible for the reduced output of the smelter-refinery complex in the past couple of years. Even so, Poland is Europe’s third largest producer of refined copper after Russia and Germany. Approximately half of KGHM’s refined copper production is consumed internally in the group’s own copper wire rod operations (see next paragraph) while the balance is exported to other major international consumers. China (37%), Germany (31%), France (16%), Italy (8%), Turkey (4%) and Others (4%) were the major destinations for cathode exports in 2017.

Wire rod supplier

KGHM is Europe’s sixth largest consumer of refined copper following Germany, Italy, Turkey, Russia and Spain, with an estimated usage of around 280 kt in 2017. The main foundation of this consumption base is KGHM’s own output

of wire rod. Total production has been rising progressively from 243 kt in 2013 to a peak of 267 kt in 2016, which was the company’s record level of production. Output edged down modestly Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

to 266 kt in 2017. Around 94% of production is processed through a Contirod continuous caster yielding standard 8 mm rod, with the balance of output through an Upcast unit producing rods

COPPER SEMIS | 11

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Making music for Poland’s Wydarzenia news programme. Photo: KGHM

of larger diameters and some copper-silver alloy wire. Both continuous casting units are installed at the same plant in Cedynia, near the smelterrefinery complex. KGHM is the second largest seller of wire rod in Europe after Aurubis, which recently strengthened their market position with the acquisition of the 40% share of Deutsche Giessdraht, that they did not already own, from Codelco Kupferhandel. This transaction closed on 31 July 2018, with Aurubis becoming solely responsible for the marketing of the ‘Rhein-Rod’ brand from January 2019.

Around 45% of KGHM’s wire rod output is sold domestically to the local wire and cable industry. This is dominated by Tele-Fonika Kable SA that operates four plants at Krakow - Wielicka, Krakow - Biezanow, Bydgoszcz and Myslenice, as well as a 10 kt cable recycling facility at Bukowno. The remaining 55% is exported to Czechia (was Czech Republic) (37%), Hungary (18%), Germany (15%), Switzerland (6%) and Others (predominantly

European) (24%). Despite the steady growth in wire rod production in Poland, the country’s trade surplus (see Table 2) has been declining due to a rise in imports, mainly from Germany.

In 2013 Polish net exports of copper wire rod were 114 kt, but by 2017 this had fallen to 84 kt.

Although Poland’s wire rod exports had fallen slightly, the main driver of the deterioration has been a surge in wire rod imports from 33 kt in 2013 to 56 kt by 2017. Today, Germany (74%) is the largest exporter of rod and drawn copper wires to Poland followed by Sweden (17%), Russia (7%) and Others (2%). It may be that this deterioration in the country’s trade surplus in wire rod may be hard to counteract without new investment, as KGHM may now be approaching the upper limits on its continuous casting equipment capacity on both its Contirod and Upcast lines.

Other alloy semi-manufactures Compared to its sizeable market position in

wire rod, Poland is a very much smaller manufacturer of other copper and copper alloy products, and its European market share in all these products lines probably does not exceed 1%. The two enterprises active in this sector are Hutmen SA and Walcownia Metali Dziedzice SA, and both are subsidiaries of the Impexmetal Capital Group and the Boryszew Capital Groups. In the past, the product range of both companies had some overlap, but this has been largely rationalised so that now Hutmen manufactures mainly copper semimanufactures and Walcownia Metali Dziedzice copper alloy semi-manufactures. Hutmen is located in Wroclaw and Walcownia Metal Dziedzice at Czechowice-Dziedzice. Data on these company’s sales volumes by product line are shown in Table 1. Walcownia Metali Dziedzice SA is the larger of the two with annual sales volumes in the 35 kt range and Hutmen SA in the 13 kt range.

Referring to Table 2, which shows the trade patterns in semi-manufactures, it can be seen that apart from copper wire rod, Poland’s only other product line where it possesses some comparative advantage (i.e. it is a net exporter) is in copper alloy rods, bars and sections.

Dziedzice has been investing in research and development into new low and lead free brass alloys to counter stricter environmental legislation on lead content in plumbing systems.

Output and exports of this product have been rising in recent years. However, in all product lines, Poland is a moderate net importer.

A balanced outlook

There is no doubt that a strengthening local economy will help boost demand for copper and copper alloy semi-manufactures, and insulated wires and cables, in the coming years. The challenge facing the Polish copper fabricating industry is to ensure that its trade balance in these product lines is not eroded further, ceding gains to semi-manufacturers from overseas.

KGHM may have to consider incremental capacity expansion in its wire rod business to defend its European market position.

Table 2. Polish copper and semis production and sales (tonnes)

Jonathan Barnes is now an Independent Analyst

Author: Jonathan Barnes has worked as a principal consultant on copper demand for over 25 years with CRU and Wood Mackenzie. He is now an Independent Analyst on the copper industry, semi-manufactures and wire and cable markets.

E-mail: jpb1.barnes@gmail.com Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

Introducing…

The driving force of the refractory industry

12 | PRIMARY SMELTING

The Dongying Fangyuan story The Dongying Group has had many firsts in its short history - the company began in 1998 - and has become one of the leading modern copper plants in the world. This article briefly provides an update on this progressive plant in China.

Its two key milestones are that Dongying was the first copper smelter in China to introduce bottom blowing smelting technology (called the SKS or BBS technology) in 2008 (the Dongying I smelter). Then in 2015 Dongying was the first copper smelter in China to introduce the revolutionary ‘Two-Step Copper Smelting Process’ (Dongying II smelter).

The Dongying I plant had an original design capacity of about 60,000 tonnes of copper per year, but with improvements in oxygen blowing, capacity soon reached over 100,000 tpy copper. The Dongying II plant has a nominal capacity of about 380,000 tpy copper (4). The Dongying plant is shown in Figure 1.

Background to the development of the oxygen smelting process (also referred to as the SKS or BBS process) is provided in References (1), (2), (5), and also in Copper Worldwide Vol 7 No 1, pp 17-18.

Table 1. Dongying I Smelter - major equipment

Table 2. Operating data for the smelting reactor at Dongying I plant in 2012

Dongying I Smelter

The Dongying Fangyuan Company was formed in 1998 by Mr. Cui Zhixiang as President - the current Chairman - with Mr. Li Yujun as CFO. The first copper plant was built in Dongying in Shandong Province (Mr. Cui’s home province) to treat copper scrap including a copper refinery with a nominal capacity of 10,000 tonnes of copper per year. The company grew with additional scrap capacity added as China’s copper demand expanded rapidly. Between 2000 and 2005 for example, China’s copper smelting capacity increased by a factor of 1.8 times, from 1.38 million tonnes to 2.5 Mt, as in Figure 2. At the time, demand was projected to grow at about the same rate, as turned out to be the case.

By 2005, Dongying Fangyuan increasingly looked towards treating copper concentrate, in particular certain lower grade concentrates which were problematic in some smelters in China due to external energy constraint factors. The company therefore examined other potential technologies. Consideration was given to the then new Chinese bottom blowing technology. The first plant with this technology had started in Vietnam some years earlier in 2001. (1) The Dongying I smelter based on this technology was commissioned in 2008 with an initial conservative capacity of 60,000 tonnes of copper per year. Apart from the new oxygen smelting reactor (Figure 3), the flowsheet of Dongying I was fairly conventional and included Peirce-Smith converters and anode furnaces. The new plant included the major equipment listed in Table 1.

Operating data for the Dongying I smelter some four years after start-up are illustrated

Table 3. Key operating data for the ‘two-step’ copper smelting process at the Dongying 2 Copper Smelter in 2015 (4)

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

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Find out more at rhimagnesita.com PRIMARY SMELTING | 13

1 View of the Dongying Fangyuan plant in Shandong Province, China

4 The technical paper describing the new Dongying 1 smelter was presented at TMS 2013

2 Growth in copper smelter capacity in China - 1949 to present time

5 Schematic arrangement of the ‘two-step’ process

3 The oxygen smelting furnace at the Dongying I smelter

in Table 2, based on information given in a 2013 paper by Zhao, Cui and Wang (3), also referring the illustration of the conference volume in Figure 4.

The plant was initially designed for a conservative concentrate smelting rate of 32 tonnes per hour, or roughly 238,000 t of conc./ year and 60,000 t of Cu/year, based on 25% Cu in concentrate. By utilising the full output of the oxygen plant (nominally 10,000 Nm3/ hr), the oxygen injection rate was gradually increased and by January 2012, as shown in Table 2, the plant was treating some 70 t of concentrate /hr (over a year this corresponds to around 520,000 t conc./yr or 115,000 t of Cu/year based on 22% Cu in concentrate).

It is noted that the Dongying I smelting vessel at 4.4 m in diameter and 16.5 m long, was on a volumetric basis, scaled up some 3.7 times larger than the original smaller Shengyuan vessel (5). Based on scale-up considerations for bath smelting vessels, the specific blowing rate expressed as Nm3/hr.t of melt for the larger vessel would be expected to be higher by about the same factor. In the event, the January 2012 data given in Table 2, while a little short of this, nevertheless approaches the expected capacity rate.

of a radically new copper smelting process called the ‘Two-Step Copper Smelting Process’.

The ‘Two-Step’ process was described in a paper given at the Copper 2016 International Conference (4) and summarised in the Copper Worldwide Vol 7 No 1 issue. The following is intended to provide an update on the plant.

A schematic arrangement of the ‘Two-Step’ process is illustrated in Figure 5, showing the single smelting furnace (SLS vessel) and the two converting vessels (SLCR vessels), while a plant flowsheet is presented in Figure 6.

The operation of the ‘Two-Step’ process is briefly described as follows. Separate day bins are provided to store copper concentrate, slag concentrate, silica flux, dust and coal prior to feeding the smelting furnace or SLS (Figure 7).

The feed materials are then fed to the smelting vessel at controlled rates through one of the three feed ports located at the top of the barrel section and one end of the vessel.

Oxygen and air are injected through 23 bottom-mounted concentric tuyeres.

The injected gases react with the added feed to form a high-grade matte containing 73 to 78 % Cu content, a slag averaging 2.5% Cu and a high-strength SO2 off-gas. The process offgases are ducted to the acid plant following gas cleaning. The tapped slag is cooled in 12 m3 ladles and following slow-cooling, is treated by milling and slag flotation for copper recovery.

The high-grade matte flows generally continuously by gravity via the matte launder to one of the two converting vessels (referred as SLCR vessels, Figure 8) which operate in parallel as follows: The liquid matte feed port in each converting vessel is located near the centre of the vessel end-wall. The two converting vessels, which when full of matte operate in a batch mode, function alternatively to effectively allow for an overall continuous operation.

A typical sequence of the converter units is as follows: The No. 1 converter is charged with matte by launder transfer. When charging is complete (and matte is then directed to the No. 2 converter), blowing in No. 1 converter commences to convert the high-grade matte charge to blister copper. At this point as noted, the No. 2 converter starts to receive highgrade matte. After slag skimming at the No. 1 converter, copper reduction - by switching to reducing gas - commences and when the analysis of a sample of copper shows the anode copper is ready, casting commences. At the end of casting, the No. 1 vessel is then ready again to receive high-grade matte when the No. 2 converter readies for finishing, followed by anode casting. Table 2 presents the average anode analysis (4).

The plant has operated since 2015. One of the most important auxiliary plants at a copper smelter is the cryogenic oxygen plant.

Modern smelters require tonnage oxygen to achieve the high smelting rates. In 2005, the existing oxygen plant at Dongying was limiting smelting capacity and plans were made to replace the older plant. In July 2015, the decision was made to install a new Air Liquide oxygen plant nominally rated at

Dongying 2 Smelter

At the same time, Dongying increased technology development activities (including creating a number of university hubs to undertake research and development work) and subsequently optimised the smelting technology. The technology development program led to the design and introduction

6 Flowsheet of the ‘Two-Step’ process (5)

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

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14 | PLANT INTEGRATION

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

Pt1 - Controlled solutions for copper In 2016, the production of non-ferrous metals was worth more than 300 billion euros. The new joint venture PolyMet Solutions was founded by SMS group and Mettop with the objective to develop new technical solutions and to enhance customer value in this market (Pt1 - p14,15,25; pt2 - p16; pt3 - p18).

The production of copper is accompanied by extracting large volumes of precious byproducts such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium.

This makes the copper industry the second largest producer of gold and silver worldwide.

As a general rule, non-ferrous metals are extracted in pyrometallurgical or in hydrometallurgical processes. However, these two procedures can be combined. The joint venture enables Mettop and SMS group to offer holistic plant solutions for these process lines. Figure 1 gives an overview.

The profound and detailed understanding of process sequences is a basic condition to build reliable and efficient new metallurgical plants and to optimise existing ones. The target is to provide customers with profitable, flexible, high-quality and permanently available plant solutions. PolyMet Solutions has both the knowhow and the required experience (see Figure 2).

1 Explanation of core competences

Intelligent furnace cooling

The innovative cooling solutions of PolyMet Solutions come into play where furnaces have to stand the highest loads and stresses, for instance in areas of very high temperatures or temperature fluctuations, aggressive e xhaust gases and slags, or at critical spots such as taphole areas. Custom-tailored cooling systems for furnace vessels make sure varying loads are compensated in a targeted and effective manner.

The solutions offered by the joint venture include air cooling, spray cooling, cooling technologies with integrated copper elements such as CFM (Composite Furnace Modular) cooling systems, plate and finger coolers. With this design of coolers (see Figures 3a and 3b) and the concept of high intensity coolers it is possible working based on the freeze-lining concept (1-5). This technology allows novel and innovative cooling solutions where the refractory consumption is significantly reduced or stopped.

ILTEC technology

The major innovation in the field of furnace cooling is the ILTEC (Ionic Liquid Cooling) Technology which paves the way for increased plant safety. This revolutionary, patented cooling technology is jointly marketed by Mettop and SMS group. It permits water-free cooling in all areas near the furnace and thus makes operation safe wherever it is applied (6). Four major applications are in focus for ILTEC (see Figure 4).

The special ionic liquid IL-B2001 as the cooling medium with its superior characteristics in terms of operating temperature (50 °C - 250 °C), physical properties and, in particular, the total lack of reaction when getting in contact with liquid metal or slag, opens up a completely

2 Products and activities subdivided into the different areas

new way of optimising cooling processes in metallurgical plants. The main idea behind ILTEC is not to replace all water-cooled areas but to use this technology in zones where water cooling is dangerous and involves the risk of refractory material hydration or of corrosion effects due to cooling. The higher operating temperature of up to 200 °C offers great heat recovery benefits over previous cooling concepts using water as cooling medium. Engineering, closed cooling circuit hardware for the IL-B2001 medium, cooling element layout or the required cooling performance, is all perfectly tailored to the respective application and individual customer needs.

Primary copper Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

3a CFM cooling element

3b 3D modelling

The joint venture PolyMet Solutions supplies to its customers all plants for primary copper production from one source - a partner with comprehensive process knowhow. The portfolio

PLANT INTEGRATION | 15

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m

7 ILTEC cooling of the tuyere zone within a PS converter and detailed structure of this part

8 PolyRefine Furnace

Fire refining

4 Application areas for ILTEC water-free cooling technology

5 Production route from copper concentrate to the cathode grade copper provided by PolyMet Solutions

ranges from equipment for primary smelting to electrolysis with METTOP- BRX Technology.

The processing steps are shown in Figure 5.

There are several procedures available for smelting copper concentrate. PolyMet Solutions is specialised in optimising the commonly used methods with respect to lifetime and process management. In addition, a proprietary primary smelting method is being developed at present that will speed up reaction times inside the furnace by means of high-speed burners.

The key element of PolyConvert is underbath tuyere cooling by means of a non-e xplosive cooling liquid (ILTEC Technology) as introduced above. This innovative solution (see Figure 7) can be used in conventional Peirce Smith converters and extend the service life. The system can be integrated in new plants as well as existing ones.

The service portfolio of SMS group also includes the revamp and maintenance of such a system.

Slag cleaning

Refining and casting

Ranking among the leading suppliers of slag cleaning furnaces, SMS group has developed a new generation of furnaces. In continuous operation, the novel, rectangular furnace design (see CONTENTS page 1) offers considerable advantages compared to conventional round furnaces. The electrodes are arranged side by side to ensure uniform power distribution and cover the whole furnace vessel. In addition there are further positive effects in the smelting process which ensure that the copper content in the cleaned slag is minimised to under 0.7 percent. SMS group also offers its customers cooling and lining concepts that increase the furnace lifetime to a multiple of conventional designs. Moreover, SMS group is working on further concepts to boost recycling rates.

Converting

PolyConvert is a system developed by PolyMet Solutions that increases the efficiency of the conversion process and ensures significantly longer lifetimes of the furnace vessel.

Exact refining of blister copper paired with a precisely operating casting wheel increases the efficiency of plants. SMS group supplies both units as integrated solutions. In the field of anode furnaces, PolyRefine implements a number of future-oriented technologies and brings them to market maturity (see Figure 8).

These technologies include new charging and deslagging systems as well as the furnace design itself. This results in shorter tap-totap times, better quality of the product and reduced fuel consumption. Plant users will furthermore enjoy the advantage of a high degree of automation and low emission levels.

Casting wheels for copper anodes from SMS group impress with their high availability, their reliability and low operating costs. Major factors contributing to their high efficiency are automated operation and maintenance friendliness. Casting wheels make anode production cost-effective and satisfy the market’s growing demands on quality of cast copper anodes.

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

For its CONTIROD® lines, SMS group developed a new generation of fire refining furnaces. They open up the possibility of producing FRHC copper and ETP copper from copper scrap. Depending on the desired product quality, different materials may be used such as copper cathodes and copper scrap of grades 1 to 3 (for example birch/cliff). The PolyRefine furnace has an extended burning zone and attains a higher smelting performance and efficiency. The stable temperature profile prevents the furnace roof from overheating.

The plants are equipped with an extremely variable PROX burner. Compared to conventional fire refining furnaces, the specific energy consumption is substantially reduced.

The flame length is adjustable and optimises furnace heating (see Page 25, Figure 9).

The refined liquid copper is either directly cast in the CONTIROD® line or mixed with liquid ETP copper from the shaft furnace. These plants have a capacity of up to 60 tonnes per hour.

Highly efficient injectors (SIS) increase the sustainability of plants in the field of nonferrous metals. The SIS system developed and patented by SMS group combines innovative burner and oxygen injector technologies and stands out due to high productivity and low production costs. In the SIS system, refining nozzles do not get in contact with the bath and need extremely little maintenance.

They make sure the smelt is thoroughly mixed and reduce gas consumption.

Electrolysis

SMS group and Mettop are currently experiencing a rising demand for innovative copper electrolysis technologies. Together with Montanwerke Brixlegg AG, Mettop developed the patented METTOP-BRX Technology (see Page 25, Figure 10). This solution provides for the fresh electrolyte to be introduced directly between each pair of electrodes. Due to this parallel flow method, the fresh electrolyte is guided in upward flow direction to the surface of the respective cathode, thus enhancing the existing flow from natural convection. Using the METTOP-BRX Technology does not impact the settlement of anode slime. The design of the Contd on page 25

16 | COPPER SEMIS

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

ZGR orders Southwire copper rod mill Jiangsu ZGR New Material Technology Co., LTD. has signed a contract with Southwire Company, LLC for an SCR-7000 copper rod mill, to be installed in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China. Start-up is projected for mid-2019.

Southwire Company is responsible for engineering, supplying and supervising installation of the SCR-7000 system, which will produce electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper rods and copper silver alloys for electrical wire and cable applications. Primetals Technologies will provide engineering, equipment and installation supervision for the rolling mill equipment, which includes a 13-stand Morgan No-Twist mill, a 24-inch entry shear, intermediate shear, delivery and cleaning system, two pinch rolls, a rod coiler, coil conveyor system with hydraulics, and two oil lubrication systems. The mill will run 48 tonnes per hour on 8 mm rods. It will also be capable of producing 9.5 mm, 12.7 mm, 16 mm and 18 mm diameter rods with an annual capacity of approximately 315,000 tonnes.

An SCR-7000 copper rod mill

Yixing-based ZGR had previously purchased an SCR-4500 from a Southwire customer in 2012. The company specialises in the development, manufacture and sale of copper conductor wire. It has an annual production

capacity of 250,000 tonnes of copper and copper alloy wire billets for end products that can be widely used in telecommunications, electricity, electronics, automotive, aerospace and other industries.

Southwire Company, based in Carrollton, Georgia, USA, is North America’s largest wire and cable producer. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, portable and electronic cord products, OEM wire products and engineered products. Over the last 50 years, Primetals Technologies has built more than 110 non-ferrous mills and completed approximately 40 upgrades for Southwire customers. NoTwist is a registered trademark of Primetals Technologies, Limited, in certain countries. www.primetals.com

OCM Kirov copper rolling mill launched The plant official inauguration ceremony took place within the premises of OCM Kirov (around 800 km ENE of Moscow in Russia) on 12 July 2018. The new mill is one of the most advanced in the world for the production of rolled copper strip. The start button launching the new production line was pushed by local region Governor Igor Vasiliev, together with the top managements of the Holding Group UMMC, OMC Kirov and Danieli Fröhling.

The new 4-hi copper breakdown rolling mill is fitted with high-tech equipment and based on the most advanced technologies. It will produce copper strips up to a width of 1,050 mm, at finish thickness ranging from 5 mm to 0.5 mm.

Besides the breakdown rolling operation to prepare incoming material for the downstream finishing mill, the design is also focused on

the direct production of high quality finished strip for the market.

Relevant special design features are flatness measurement and control, special strip drying system for finishing The new 4-hi copper breakdown rolling mill.

Photo: Danieli Fröhling pass, and belt wrapper to coil the finished strip to spools.

Together with the finishing rolling mill also supplied and installed by Danieli Fröhling in 2008, the customer will now be able to perform

Pt2 - SMS group fulfils semis process steps Customers engaged in production of extrusion billets, cold rollable strip, tubes/pipes, wires, bars, rods, hollow ingots, sections, anodes as well as hot and cold rolled products benefit from the vast SMS group product range. In the field of copper plants, SMS group is the only supplier worldwide that can cover the entire metallurgical process chain from copper smelting to the finished product.

The portfolio includes different continuous casters, horizontal and vertical ones, for continuous and semi-continuous applications, and for special alloys (see Figures).

Vertical continuous casters offer a maximum degree of economic efficiency and operational safety in production of, e.g. slabs or extrusion billets. Horizontal continuous casters are used to produce high-quality, cold rollable strip, extrusion billets, wire rod, tubes/pipes and bars, mainly from copper alloys. CONTIROD® lines unite melting, casting and rolling

facilities to form an integrated solution.

Using this perfectly harmonised configuration, customers of SMS group are setting production benchmarks around the globe.

In the field of tube/pipe production, SMS group covers the complete value chain.

To produce mother tubes on a highly efficient basis, customers rely on both, directube® system and extrusion. Further processing is accomplished by drawing machines.

Finishing section and handling equipment completes the whole package. The directube® system of SMS group is an innovative technology that provides cost efficiency even when small or medium-size volumes are produced. The special feature characterising directube® is that the process step of extruding can be completely omitted. The cathodes are cast from copper cathodes on a horizontal caster and immediately processed to mother tubes on a planetary rolling mill. Finally, the Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

The inauguration ceremony at OCM Kirov. Photo: Danieli Fröhling

the complete copper cold rolling process from a maximum incoming strip thickness of 16 mm down to foil finished products of minimum 0.025 mm. With the new equipment the domestic market share of OCM Kirov is intended to increase up to 55 percent. www.danieli-froehling.de www.en.ocm.ru

Remelting

Combined Forming Processes & Finishing

Shaft Furnace Contirod ® Slabs/billets preheating Hot & cold rolling Induction Furnace directube® Holding Furnace Milling, Extrusion Drum Furnace Cold pilgering

Planetary Rolling

Tubes & profiles drawing Annealing Cutting/straightening/coiling Different available aggregates for the various process steps provided by PolyMet Solutions

CONTIROD® line for uniting melting, casting and rolling facilities

shells are processed to sellable products on further SMS group machines. www.sms-group.com

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.

18 | RECYCLING AND SCRAP PROCESSING

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

ICSG 2018 Recyclables Survey The International Copper Study Group Annual Recyclables Survey 2018 edition was released in April 2018. The Reference Period is 2005 - 2016 and there are Preliminary Estimates for 2017.

The survey focuses on secondary refined copper production and the copper content of directly melted scrap for production of semis, casting ingots, castings, and, if available, other products such as powders, chemicals and plating anodes.

The Survey has a detailed update of copper direct melt scrap flows for recent years, with a detailed focus on the turning point in scrap uses in 2016 and 2017 in different regions of the world. A detailed review of secondary refined production statistics for recent years is included. With updated information on scrap refined into cathode the quality of the data reported on secondary refined production and

on scrap in direct melt continues to improve.

China was the top secondary (copper scrap) refiner in 2017 with 1.613 million tonnes (3.8% growth) out of a world total of 3.348 Mt. The world ex-China saw a 4.7% growth to 1.735 Mt. Japan is ranked second with 321.9 kt and Germany is third with 280.8 kt output.

The Russian Federation is the only other country to break the 200 kt level, with 202.3 kt production. Over the Reference Period, South Korea (the Korean Republic) has been increasing domestic capacity and enacted a strong response to positive increases in the price of refined copper, reaching 160.1 kt copper refined from scrap in 2017 (Belgium: 163.4 kt).

These complete the top six secondary refiners.

Total scrap directly melted by fabricators worldwide in 2017 from the Survey is

an estimated 5.403 Mt, with the EU-28 contribution an estimated 1.257 Mt. The United States is the top direct melter at 832.5 kt, followed closely by China (795.9 kt), then Japan (584 kt) and Italy (459 kt). India is quoted at 370.7 kt and Germany at 342.4 kt respectively.

The development of statistics on copper content in scrap directly melted by fabricators in different countries is ongoing.

It is still necessary to estimate all the copper in scrap direct melt in the European Union, and in many other countries. This situation can change only with the more active participation of the fabricators, but the commercial sensitivity is appreciated. Most of North America and Japan’s operators can give the Survey reliable information. www.icsg.org

Pt3 - UrbanGold recycling of electronic waste Every year, more than 45 million tonnes of electronic wastes are collected. Therefore, it is no surprise that the material is a valuable source of metals. Professional recycling is not only an ecological advantage, but offers economic incentives. Austria’s UrbanGold GmbH offers solutions for the metallurgical treatment of nonferrous grades gained from WEEE (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment) materials.

In October 2016, SMS group and UrbanGold, an affiliate and spin-off company of Mettop, signed a cooperation agreement. The common objective is to market UrbanGold’s technology that serves the efficient recycling of precious materials such as gold, silver, platinum, nickel and copper. More than 98 percent of these metals can completely be recovered and converted to pure metal products. Recent studies demonstrate that the payback period to the users may be less than two years. The process consists mainly of pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical process steps and is superior compared to state of the art conventional technology and allows the recovery of all valuable metals according to LME grade quality (see Figure). The first plant of this innovative technology will be commissioned in Russia.

The key component of UrbanGold’s technology is HENRI (High Energy Noble Reactor). It permits the smelting and recycling of so-called low-grade materials with a share of organic material of up to 50 percent (see

Flowsheet of the UrbanGold process from WEEE-concentrate to pure elements

HENRI furnace vessel with CFM cooling elements and the water-free ILTEC Technology for safe and effective cooling. View from metal tap side

Figure). Cooling the furnace vessel with the ILTEC Technology from Mettop is a basic condition for a safe process with minimised refractory wear by HENRI. Due to the lowgrade materials to be smelted, gas treatment is an important aspect in UrbanGold’s

technology. Advanced gas cleaning solutions make sure the exhaust air will not contain any environmentally harmful substances like mercury, bromine, fluorine or chlorine.

In addition to the integrated solution, UrbanGold offers a compact plant for the recycling of printed circuit boards. The smelting and refining steps are accomplished in a TBRC (Top Blown Rotary Converter) which has been standard for decades for the recycling and refining of copper scrap. The latest generation is equipped with an integrated tapping system in the side wall. This ensures slag-free metal tapping and considerably enhances process flexibility. The modular system UrbanGold Compact requires lower investment costs and may be expanded to a complete plant later on. www.sms-group.com www.urbangold.at

China scrap imports fall to March According to Antaike Copper & Copper Fabrication Monthly No.258, the implementation of the new policy this year has led to a significant reduction in the import of 7# copper scrap. According to the import data in March, the physical quantity imported in the month was 223,000 tonnes, a decrease of 37.73% year-on-year. After converting the copper content, the import in March was

about 138,000 tonnes, down 3.5% year-on-year.

The import of 7# copper scrap accounted for 34.2 per cent of the month’s imports, and the import of 6# copper scrap accounted for 65.8 per cent.

On the same basis, imports from January to March were about 330,000 tonnes, down 5.2% year-on-year. Based on the current situation, the physical quantity imports have dropped Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

significantly, but the copper content has increased by about 20 per cent. As a result, after the conversion of metal content, the decline in scrap copper imports is not as much as expected. The NBS has now suspended the release of detailed data since April.

New policy has the greatest impact on the dismantling of plant. www.antaike.com

PRIMARY SMELTING | 19

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m Contd from page 13

60,000 Nm3 of oxygen/hr. The new oxygen plant commenced operations in September 2017. Current performance data typical for 2018 are presented in Table 4.

The Fangyuan Process is patented in China (Chinese Patent No. 201410237182.4). It operates with two main pyrometallurgical steps instead of three pyrometallurgical steps in conventional processing (however, a separate slag cleaning step and an acid plant are also required in both cases). The process operates without crane transfer of hot metal ladles. Dongying Fangyuan is looking at new smelter opportunities around the world. The copper world awaits news of further developments.

Table 4. Current operating data for the Dongying 2 smelter and Two-Step process (2018)

www.sdfygroup.com References (1) Li Cheng, Wang Jianming, Wang Zhongshi, Jiang Jimu and Huang Qixing, The SKS Copper Smelting Process, Proceedings of the Copper 99-Cobre 99 International Conference, Volume VI (Smelting Technology Development, Process Modelling and Fundamentals), C.Diaz, C.Landolt and T.Utigard, Eds., 10-13 October 1999, Phoenix, Arizona, The CIME, The Metallurgical Society of CIM and TMS, Warrendale, PA, USA, 1999, pp. 67-82.

(2) Kaixi Jiang, Lan Li, Yaping Feng, Haibei Wang and Bang Wei, The Development of China’s Copper Smelting Technologies, The T.T.Chen Honorary Symposium on Hydrometallurgy, Electrometallurgy and Materials Characterization, S.Wang, J.E. Dutrizac, M. Free, J.Y.Hwang amd D. Kim, Eds., TMS, Warrendale, PA, USA, 2012, pp. 167-176.

(3) Baojun Zhao, Zhixiang Cui and Zhi Wang, A New Copper Smelting Technology - Bottom Blown Oxygen Furnace Developed at Dongying Fangyuan Nonferrous Metals, 4th International Symposium on High Temperature Metallurgical Processing, T.Jiang, J.Y.Hwang, P.J. Mackey, O.Yucel and G.Zhou, Eds., TMS, Warrendale, PA, USA, 2013, pp. 3-10.

(4) Z. Cui, Z. Wang, H. Wang and C. Wei, Two-step copper smelting process at Dongying Fangyuan, Paper PY16-4, Copper 2016, International Conference, Kobe, Japan, November, MMIJ, Japan, 2016.

(5) P.J. Mackey, Copper Smelting Technologies in 2013 and Beyond, Plenary paper present at Copper 2013, Santiago, Chile, November 2013.

Author: Phillip Mackey

Unbenannt-1 1

7 Arrangement of the SLS smelting reactor at the Dongying 2 smelter, presently the largest known bath smelting reactor in the world (5)

8 Arrangement of the SLCR converting/refining reactor at the Dongying 2 smelter (5)

9 Further view of the Dongying Fangyuan smelters.

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

20.07.2017 11:05:21

20 | CONTRACTS & PEOPLE In brief…

Grupo México capital investments during 2Q18 reached US$ 434 million, up 23% year-on-year. The modernisation of the Hayden smelter in Arizona was concluded. The Mining Division’s new concentrator in Toquepala, within time and budget, will start operations in 3Q18, and will produce 20,000 tonnes of copper in 2018 and 100,000 tpy as of 2019.

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

KME buys Mansfelder Kupfer und Messing

www.gmexico.com

Southern Copper made an initial contract payment of US$ 12.5 million on 12 June 2018 to acquire the Michiquillay project in Cajamarca (Peru) with mineral resources of 1,150 Mt @ 0.63% copper. It is set to produce 225,000 tpy of copper (with by-product molybdenum, gold and silver) for an initial 25 years plus, at a cost of US$ 2.5 bn with start-up by 2025.. www.southerncoppercorp.com

Thackaringa Cobalt Project, in NSW Australia has a 4,000 tonnes (20,000 t cobalt sulphate) per year production target, with reserves of 50,000 t. The PFS was completed on 4 July 2018 with the assistance of ALS Metallurgy Tasmania and Perth testing laboratories. CEO Joe Kaderavek expects a decision to mine would be made sometime after June 2019. www.cobaltblueholdings.com

Katanga Mining Limited has appointed Mr. Samuel Rasmussen as Chief Operating Officer of the company, replacing Deon Garbers. Mr. Rasmussen has significant experience in large scale open pit and underground operations, having served in various management roles for companies such as Freeport McMoran Copper and Gold, Inc. (in DRC), and others. www.katangamining.com

According to a cobalt-industry report from Research and Markets, the global cobalt market will face a tight supply situation in 2017-2021, with the gap of 12,000 tonnes by 2021 (from an estimated 3,320 tonne gap in 2017), representing more than 10 percent of current supply levels, and continued upward pressure on the material price. www.researchandmarkets.com

Cobalt Blockchain Inc. has successfully negotiated a supply agreement with one of the largest local mining cooperatives in the Lualaba province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Commencing in June 2018, COBC will be supplied with a minimum of 40,000 tonnes of cobalt concentrate per year, with a minimum grade of 1% cobalt. www.cobaltdl.com

View of the MKM Production area. Photo: MKM

T h e K M E G r o u p, b a s e d i n Osnabrück, and the owners of MKM Mansfelder Kupfer und Messing GmbH, headquartered in Hettstedt, signed an acquisition agreement in July which provides for the complete takeover of MKM. As soon as the EU competition authorities and MKM’s financing partners have given their

approval, the takeover - scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2018 - will be concluded.

KME is owned by Italy’s IntekGroup Spa and produces about 330,000 tonnes of c o p p e r p ro d u c t s annually worldwide across 15 production sites.

The MKM Hettstedt site will play a key role in the new network of production facilities.

MKM has invested around EUR 80 million in the site since 2014, has upgraded various equipment and commissioned new production systems and processes. Last year MKM, which has an 1,100 strong workforce, processed over 270,000

tonnes of copper, mainly into rolled products, tubes, copper rods and wire rods, and posted revenues of about EUR 1 billion. After the merger, the newly formed company will generate revenues of EUR 3 billion with around 4,900 employees.

MKM CEO Roland Harings indicated that the merged company wants to combine the strengths of both companies, adopting the best solutions and processes in the industry. In growth markets, such as e-mobility, renewable energies and energy distribution systems, being able to act as a global partner is vitally important, by establishing specialised, highly efficient mass production with an international presence. www.kme.com www.mkm.eu

KGHM invests in production In its Q1 results presentation released in May, KGHM said it produced 143 kt payable copper for the period. The company plans a further increase in flash furnace efficiency at the Głogów I smelter in 2018 to achieve target processing capacity. Average accrued efficiency of concentrate processing in the new flash furnace in the first quarter of 2018 was 105.1 t/h, giving 104.0 t/h (design capacity 132 t/h) for the entire period to date from start-up (15 October 2016).

This equates to 79.6% of target efficiency. Further enhancement of the efficiency of the flash furnace at Głogów I to 100% of target

efficiency will be achieved following the commissioning of the copper concentrate roasting installation, which is undergoing modification with planned start-up at the end of the year. Technip (now TechnipFMC) was awarded a contract by KGHM in 2016 to provide engineering and procurement services for the 480 tonnes per day Dorr Oliver FluoSolids® roaster system. A new steam drier at Głogów II is also expected to be brought on-line in the third quarter of 2018.

The main priority for KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. in the first quarter of 2018 was to secure resources for the production of electrolytic copper

Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 update Teck Resources Limited says its Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 project in Chile is expected to have an initial mine life of 25 years, based on reserves only, which make up approximately 25% of the combined reserve and resource. Annual production capacity is expected to be 300,000 tonnes of copper equivalent production per year for the first five years of mine life.

Project activities during the quarter focused primarily on execution readiness activities, advancing detailed engineering and design, which is now approximately 70% complete, and continuing progress on the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) regulatory approval process. The Indigenous Consultation Process conducted by the regulatory authorities with eight Indigenous communities has been completed with all the communities

from own concentrate during the furnace downtime of the Glogow II Copper Smelter and Refinery in the April-June timeframe. The anode production inventory rose by nearly 30 kt of copper in the period, and this is gradually being used in the electrorefining process. Following the period of maintenance work, production of copper from own concentrate will visibly accelerate, so that by the end of the year it will be several percent higher than the previous year, according to Rafal Pawelczak, President of the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. www.kghm.com

Kamoto Copper resolves financing issue

invo l ve d. T h e e nv iro n m e n t a l evaluation has also finished, and the lead agency is preparing to issue their report, which will contain a technical recommendation for the Environmental Evaluation Commission to vote on the approval of the project, expected to take place in August 2018, after which the firm should receive final permit approval documents.

A decision to proceed with development will be contingent upon regulatory approvals and market conditions, among other considerations. Teck is to seek an additional partner for Quebrada Blanca Phase 2, as it ultimately wants a 60 - 70% interest in the project. Development expenditures for the first nine months of 2018 are expected to be approximately US$ 250 million.

Katanga Mining Limited and Kamoto Copper Company, its 75% operating subsidiary in DRC, have completed transactions under a settlement agreement announced on 12 June with (amongst others) joint venture partner, DRC state-owned Gécamines, namely a recapitalisation plan to satisfy DRC corporate law. Gécamines has withdrawn the legal proceedings it commenced on 20 April 2018 in the Kolwezi Commercial Court to dissolve KCC as a result.

Katanga’s assets include the Kamoto Underground Mine and KOV open pit mine, providing sulphide and oxide ores respectively, and the Kamoto Concentrator and Luilu Metallurgical Plant for the onsite production of refined copper and cobalt.

www.teck.com

www.katangamining.com

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

CONTRACTS & PEOPLE | 21

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Wieland in Danieli Fröhling slitting line order A long-lasting partnership with Wieland and Danieli Fröhling’s sophisticated solutions is the basis for the new slitting line project at Wieland Langenberg in Germany.

With this investment, Wieland is expanding its finishing capacity and addressing the increasing demand for thin-gauge strips of high-performance alloys and tinned materials. Danieli Fröhling is well known for its highaccuracy rotary blade shear stands that are based on a maximum of mechanical stiffness combined with sensors and servo technology, also with highest accuracy. The tinned plated material requires a smooth guiding and re-tensioning of the surface sensitive material.

The Danieli Fröhling vacuum roll technology has been well known to the Wieland Group for many years,

DF CNC Slitter Head

as a proven solution to ensure high surface quality for the slitting and rewinding process. Again, slitter and vacuum technology, a fully automatic mandrel change, and a customised layout were the basis for awarding this strategically important project to Danieli Fröhling. The order includes supply and full on-site installation of the new slitting line. With this investment, in close alignment with its customers’ growth plans, Wieland is further strengthening its position as

DF Vacuum roll re-tensioning unit

a global service leader for thin-gauge copper alloy strip in the automotive and electronics industry. www.danieli-froehling.com

Author: Leander Zielenbach, Project Leader, Danieli Fröhling

The leaching plant comprises a new 45 x 135 metre building located next to the quay in the Rönnskär industrial area. The plant is scheduled to come on line at the end of 2020, provided that the environmental permit for the plant is granted as expected in September 2018. The annual production will total 25 thousand tonnes of lead sulphate and 25 thousand tonnes of copper/zinc sulphate. The investment follows the ongoing investment of SEK 650 million in the deep repository at Rönnskär, which is expected to be completed by 2020. www.boliden.com

Otto Junker upgrade at Aurubis Finland Leading global nonferrous supplier Aurubis is investing in expanding its production of rolled products.

In 2017, the company contracted Otto Junker GmbH to optimise an existing strip flotation furnace at Aurubis Finland Oy in Pori with a view to increasing its performance.

The project concerned a degreasing,

annealing and pickling line installed in 1993 which handles strip thicknesses from 0.13 mm to 1.6 mm and strip widths from 300 to 1,200 mm. Otto Junker optimised the strip tension in the annealing zone and replaced the dancer roll.

In addition, the heat transfer inside the existing interior casing

in operation from Autumn 2018.

For the two-year project, Boliden has joined forces with Eitech and ABB to supply electrical infrastructure, Pon Equipment and Caterpillar for truck modifications, and Chalmers University with supporting research on system aspects of the electrification.

The project is supported by the Swedish Energ y A gency. The technology developed will be a

Thomas Söderqvist, Director Corporate Responsibility and member of Group Management, announced in July he has chosen to leave his current position in favour of part-time pension and a role as senior advisor within Boliden. He will remain in his current position until the recruitment process has been finalised and a successor is in place. www.boliden.com

AMETEK Surface Vision has appointed Dr Shean McMahon to the newly created role of Divisional Vice President of Research and Development.

The knowledge base of Surface Vision offers web and surface inspection and monitoring solutions, combining powerful software, line-scan camera technology and high-intensity lighting, to the metals sector. www.ameteksurfacevision.com

The FAMUR Group in Katowice signed a cooperation agreement with ABB Poland on 15 June 2018. Both parties will collaborate on modern solutions and technologies creation for the Polish and external mining sector. The contract is a strategic alliance intended to expand the range of FAMUR’s activities and to build future, long lasting business relations. www.famur.com

of this electrically heated furnace was improved by optimising flow conditions. Both aspects taken together enable the furnace to be run at near-nominal fan speeds even with thinner strips, resulting in a significant throughput increase for strip in this gauge range. www.otto-junker.com

Electric mine-truck pilot project in Aitik Boliden has initiated a pilot and demonstration project for the electrification of in-pit truck transpor ts in Aitik, Sweden’s largest open pit copper mine, together with key partners in indu s tr y a nd ac ade mia . The project will develop, install and operate an electric transpor t route with electric trolley lines and four electric mine trucks. The electric transport route will be

The Aurubis AG Supervisory Board appointed Andrea Bauer, member of the VDM Metals Management Board and CFO of the VDM Metals Group, as a new member with effect from 22 June 2018.

The appointment is limited until the end of the upcoming Annual General Meeting.

Andrea Bauer replaces Edna Schöne, who resigned on 15 June 2018. www.aurubis.com

Leaching plant investment at Rönnskär Rönnskär. The plant, expected to be operational at the end of 2020, aims to extract more metal from residual material. Simultaneously, the amount of waste for disposal in the deep repository at Rönnskär will be reduced. “The investment is fully in line with our strategy to extract as much metal as technically possible from existing raw materials.

This significant improvement in Rönnskär’s resource efficiency will both enhance the smelter’s competitiveness and reduce the Kerstin Konradsson is President of Boliden Smelters volumes of materials for disposal,” Boliden has decided to invest SEK says Kerstin Konradsson, President 750 million in a leaching plant at Boliden Smelters.

In brief…

The LME Metals Seminar 2018 on 8 October will have Jeremy Weir, CEO of Trafigura, as the keynote speaker. Morning speakers will look at geopolitical issues and innovation across the metals value chain, before a CEO Q&A with Charles Li and Matthew Chamberlain. In the afternoon there is a China Seminar. A small exhibition accompanies the event. www.lme.com

key enabler for Boliden’s mines’ strategy to move away from fossil fuel dependence. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of up to 80% on the transport segments where implemented are expected.

There is also potential identified in transpor t electrification related to increased productivity.

However electrification by trolley still requires to be proven. www.boliden.com

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods began on 1 July 2018, known and celebrated as Canada Day. Canada imposed a 25 % tariff on certain metal products. Prior to this move, Canada had an average tariff rate of only 1.56 percent. Almost everything made out of copper is tariff-free in Canada, except for copper coffins (9.5 %), and mugs (3 %) maybe? www.nationalpost.com

22 | EVENTS

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

Copper Cobalt Africa 2018 Hosted by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), Copper Cobalt Africa took place from 10 - 12 July 2018 alongside the 9th South African Base Metals Conference. The conference was held in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the mighty Victoria Falls. Recent strong rises in the prices of copper and cobalt, coupled with increasing international interest in developments in the African Copperbelt, attracted over 300 delegates, representing 22 countries.

Highlights were the outstanding Keynote speakers who opened the plenary sessions each morning. First up was Sokwani Chilembo, CEO of the Zambian Chamber of Mines, who gave an interesting view of a future of Zambian mining that would not only focus on copper, but also include cobalt, lithium, graphite, and other strategic metals. Caspar Rawles, of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, gave a fascinating analysis of the role of cobalt in t he rapidly emerging electric vehicle battery market. On Day 2, Matt Pascal, COO of First Quantum Minerals, gave a provocative and thoughtful analysis of the challenges of mining in Africa, focussing on Zambia in particular.

“Who moved my cobalt stocks” was the title of an insightful presentation by Lara Smith, founder of Core Consulting.

The third day saw Steve Amos, Ivanhoe Mines, present a very interesting overview of the Giant Kamoa-Kakula project in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the largest and highest-grade

Copper Cobalt Africa dignitaries (left to right): Mooya Lumamba (Director of Mines and Minerals, Zambia); Jackson Sikamo (Chairperson and Country Manager at Chibuluma Mines Plc, Zambia); Sehliselo Ndlovu (President: SAIMM); Paul Chanda (Permanent Secretary: Zambia Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development); Sokwani Chilembo (CEO Zambian Chamber of Mines); Darius Muma (Zambian Branch Chair: SAIMM); Kathy Sole (Conference Chair: Copper Cobalt Africa 2018)

undeveloped copper deposit in the world.

Bernadette Currie, of Ausenco, concluded with an update of the state of the art with respect to urban mining, particularly as concerns recycling of battery materials.

The technical programme comprised 58 papers that showcased advances in exploration, mining, and processing technologies. With DRC now producing more than two-thirds of the world’s cobalt, many presentations described cobalt projects in development, ramping up, or recently commissioned. Safety, training, economics, and project management topics were also covered.

The conference was enhanced by a small technical exhibition. Networking opportunities

were also plentiful in relaxed environments during a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River and traditional Zambian-style boma dinner.

Two short courses were presented prior to the conference. Hydrometallurgical Processing of Cobalt proved highly topical, attracting more than 60 attendees. The well-respected Introduction to the SAMVAL and SAMREC Reporting Codes was offered for the first time on the Copperbelt. A post-conference technical visit to Kansanshi Mine, the flagship copper mine in Zambia and eighth largest in the world, rounded out a very successful and enjoyable week. www.saimm.co.za

Peru Metals and Mining Summit CRU is pleased to announce the inaugural Peru Metals and Mining Summit 2018 one-day event to be held in Lima on 28 September 2018.

The Summit promises will attract over 100 significant decision-makers to explore how the Peruvian mining industry can take advantage of the commodity intensive green energy and transportation era. The country has substantial reserves in key commodities such as copper,

lead, silver and zinc, among others, and these demand side developments will cause impact to the local mining industry and economy.

The Summit will provide in-depth information and thought-leadership about topical issues for the country’s mining sector. The one-day agenda will focus on global demand scenarios for new energy commodities, and concise information about other key factors affecting investment decisions including: historical price support levels, relative grades, input prices, projects, costs and margins across countries and commodities. In addition, the event will

provide information on commodities that will indirectly affect the Peruvian mining industry including cobalt.

Peru Metals and Mining Summit will welcome over 15 expert speakers to discuss market implications and opportunities for the Peruvian mining sector in a clean energy economy. Topics of discussion will include renewables, electric vehicles, resource investments and commercial outlooks for copper, lead and zinc. Full details of the Peru Metals and Mining Summit conference can be found on the website below. www.perumetalsandmining.com

Asia Copper Week 2018 The Center for Copper and Mining Studies (CESCO) and China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) are pleased to invite you to the seventh annual Asia Copper Week, Asia’s leading copper event, which runs from 13-16 November.

Last year’s ACW held in SHICC was attended by over 1,800 international industry representatives and 60+ leading luminaries. ACW 2018 features four primary events: the Asia Copper Conference, China Copper Seminar, the CEO Summit and perhaps most importantly, the Asia

Copper Dinner. The 14th Asia Copper Conference organised by Metal Bulletin takes place during Asia Copper Week from 13 - 15 November 2018.

Key topics that will be covered at the conference include: • China’s changing supply dynamics How will China’s scrap import ban and new environmental policies affect the global supply chain?

• The heartbeat of global supply - Find out from key South American producers on the state of copper production Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

• Global political and economic trends Are you ready for potential changes brought about by US foreign trade policy?

• The green revolution and the EV boom - Are you underestimating the pace and scale of change?

The 7th CEO Summit takes place in the SHICC on the afternoon of 15 November.

This is followed by the 7th Asia Copper Dinner in the evening. Finally the IWCC & SHFE China Copper Seminar is planned for the morning of 16th November. www.metalbulletin.com/events www.asiacopperweek.com

1 5 to C % opp er W DIS ent er ‘ orldw CO CW1 id U 5’ a e su N T b t ch eck scribe out rs

13-15 November 2018 Grand Hyatt Shanghai, China Be a part of the largest gathering of copper professionals in Asia.

Register today.

Lead Sponsor:

Platinum Sponsor:

Gold Sponsor:

Silver Sponsor:

Co-organisers:

metalbulletin.com/events/ac

24 | PROCESSING UPDATE

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

ICSG releases NE Asia copper use study An ICSG study on copper use in fabrication focused in North East Asia region ex-China mainland (Japan, Korean Republic, Taiwan (China) and Vietnam) was completed in June 2018. This survey covers over 6.4 million tonnes of copper and copper alloy semifabrication capacity and a copper and alloy fabrication output reported in the survey of over 3.7 Mt in copper content for 2017.

Japanese capacity remains under 2.5 Mt, whilst regional use of refined copper was surveyed to be not far from 2.5 Mt per year in 2017. Meanwhile copper in scrap direct melt was surveyed as close to 1 Mt copper for 2017. The full report is EUR 500 to Member country institutions and EUR 1,000 otherwise. www.icsg.org

First Quantum second quarter summation Reporting second quarter results on 30 July, First Quantum advised solid operations and a low unit cost of production were maintained. The firm produced 150,950 tonnes of copper, including a 28% increase y-o-y at the Sentinel mine.

Elsewhere a maintenance shutdown at Las Cruces in Spain was deferred to the third quarter, whilst Kansanshi Smelter commenced its previously announced

maintenance shutdown of its high pressure leach circuit. As part of its Phased Commissioning in 2018, the Cobre Panama Project began first commissioning activities at the process plant.

It also Synchronised set 1 of the power station and started supplying power into the national grid, as well as commencing receiving and unloading full coal shipments at the port. www.first-quantum.com

Glencore increases overall output 8 per cent According to the Glencore plc Half-Year Production Report released on 31 July, own sourced copper production of 696,200 tonnes in H1 2018 was 53,300 tonnes (8%) higher than H1 2017 and cobalt production of 16,700 tonnes was 4,000 tonnes (31%) higher, in each case reflecting the restart/ramp-up of Katanga.

African own-sourced copper production was up 75% to 194,600 tonnes for the half-year.

Katanga’s cobalt circuit was commissioned in March 2018 and has since undergone ramp-up.

Elsewhere, attributable Collahuasi output rose 6% y-o-y to 115,300 tonnes for the period.

Mount Isa underwent a smelter rebrick in H1 2018, reducing Australian production to 91,500 t for the half-year. Cathode production at Pasar reached 226,900 t, a 13% fall, due to acid plant issues. Anode production was down 5% to 250,800 t accordingly. www.glencore.com

Necessity is the mother of invention Even in difficult situations, the hpl-Group remains focused on its customers’ satisfaction and has quite recently developed a creative solution for a customer request after the line design had officially been finished. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” goes the old saying, and inspires creativity, which has quite recently proven to be true for the hpl-Group.

The project included the engineering and manufacturing of an efficient slitting line for copper-coated steel strips designed to the highest safety standards. The project manager had to pay particular attention to the coil handling ensuring that the sensitive strip is protected against possible damage throughout the complete process. After all of those specifications had been included in the line design and all assemblies and components of the ordered slitting line had already been committed to the manufacturing process, the customer asked the Project Manager to check if the possibility existed to deliver the steel coil, that had just passed through the machining process of the slitting line, both in clockwise and in counterclockwise direction to the following station. This required that the coil must be turned in an upright position by 180° on its own axis, thus facilitating a more flexible coil handling for the following transport.

Difficulties arising from this request were the very limited available space within the designed line area, the high coil weight of 9 tonnes as well as the large number of coil strips.

When passing through the strip machining process, the 860 mm wide coil can be slit in up to 31 single narrow coils, which has represented the most difficult challenge to deal with. Due to the unfavourable relation of a large diameter of 1,650 mm and a single coil width of minimum

The standard coil car by hpl (left) was redesigned for turning the slit coil by 180° (right)

The flexible hold-down arm (at the top) holds the coil securely in position while it is turned

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

10 mm, the coil can easily be tilted to the side.

Due to a quick response from the hplGroup to this special customer demand, a close cooperation of the units dealing with the processing of this order and an open communication with the suppliers, this additional customer request could also be realised and delivered together with the main order. The standard above ground coil cars by hpl feature an L-shape. For this special request, the rigid support prism had been replaced by a turnable support that can turn the complete weight electro-mechanically by 180°.

A kind of ‘flexible hold-down arm’ has been designed that can both compensate slight diameter differences and secure a large number of single coils from tilting to the side.

As for almost all new developments, first test runs showed that also this one required a small change to find the optimum axis of rotation between the lower rotary plate and the upper hold-down bar. The slitting line and the customised coil car are now running to the customer’s full satisfaction and are used several times a day. www.hpl-group.de

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY | 25

w ww.copper worl dw ide. co m PLANT INTEGRATION

Contd from page 15

Pt1 - Controlled solutions for copper

EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS PURCHASING BULK MATERIAL HANDLING Kopar Oy

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

CONCENTRATE DRYING Tsukishima Kikai Co Ltd

ELECTROLYTIC REFINING 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

Mettop GmbH

9 Variable PROX Burner

3-5-1, Harumi, Chuo-Ku Tokyo, 104-0053, Japan Tel: 0081 3 5560 6427 Fax: 0081 3 5560 0575 Email: t_hayakawa@tsk-g.co.jp Web: www.tsk-g.co.jp Contact: Tomoki Hayakawa

CONTINUOUS ROTARY EXTRUSION Holton Crest Limited

10 METTOP-BRX Technology in operation at Montanwerke Brixlegg

parallel flow devices or of integrated cells that have already been installed will be tailored to the specific needs of each customer.

Thanks to the improved electrolyte flow behaviour, the METTOP-BRX Technology permits a high current efficiency to be achieved despite an increase in current density by up to 50 percent, while cathode quality is maintained at a constantly high level or even improved. Current densities of up to 420 amperes per square metre are feasible.

Pt2 - For CONTIROD®, see also COPPER SEMIS p.16 Pt3 - For UrbanGold, see also RECYCLING AND SCRAP PROCESSING p.18 www.polymet-solutions.com www.sms-group.com www.urbangold.at www.mettop.com References 1. Kyllo, A.K. and N.B. Gray: Composite Furnace Module Cooling Systems in the Electric Slag Cleaning Furnace, Proceedings of the EMC, 2005, p.1027 2. A. Fallah-Mehrjardi, P.C. Hayes, S. Vervynckt, E. Jak, Investigation of Freeze-Linings in a

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

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

COOLING SOLUTIONS Mettop GmbH

Metalex

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

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

ELECTROLYTE PURIFICATION

FURNACES Kumera Corporation

Metalex

Nonferrous Industrial Slag, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, Volume 45B, 2014, p. 850 3. A. Fallah-Mehrjardi, P.C. Hayes, E. Jak, Understanding Slag Freeze Linings, JOM, Vol. 66, No. 9, 2014, p. 1654 4. A.K. Kyllo, N.B. Gray, D. Papazoglou, and B.J. Elliot: Developing Composite Furnace Module Cooling Systems, JOM, (2000) p. 66 5. L.R. Nelson et al: Application of a high-intensity cooling system to a DC-ARC Furnace production of Ferrocobalt at Chambishi, Proceedings: Tenth International Ferroalloys Congress, Cape Town, South Africa, 2004, p. 508 6. H.J. Oterdoom: Furnace Explosions with a Focus on Water, COM 2014 - Conference of Metallurgists, Vancouver, Canada, 2014.

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

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

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

26 | SUPPLIER DIRECTORY FURNACES Contd Küttner GmbH & Co. KG

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

MATERIALS HANDLING

UrbanGold GmbH

Combilift Ltd

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, HEAT TREATMENT

THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS FURNACES, MELTING DROSS AND SCRAP PolyMet Solutions GmbH

PROCESS MODELLING

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

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

PROCESSING LINES DANIELI FRÖHLING

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

MINERAL PROCESSING

Josef Fröhling GmbH & Co. KG Scherl 12 D- 58540 Meinerzhagen Germany Tel: 0049 (0)2354 7082 0 Fax: 0049 (0) 2354 7082 200 Email: contact@danieli-froehling.de Web: www.danieli-froehling.de Contact: Detlef Neumann

hpl-Neugnadenfelder Maschinenfabrik GmbH

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

HEAT RECOVERY Küttner GmbH & Co. KG

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

PNEUMATIC CONVEYING/ INJECTION

Spangenbergstr. 20 D-49824 Ringe/Neugnadenfeld Germany Tel: 0049 5944 9301 0 Fax: 0049 5944 9301 44 E-mail: info@hpl-group.de Web: www.hpl-group.de Contact: Mr. Hans-Jaochim Biedermann

Küttner GmbH & Co. KG

Schenck Process 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

Mettop GmbH

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 PolyMet Solutions GmbH

Weir Minerals Europe Limited

Austria

PROJECT ENGINEERING Contd

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.com Contact: Richard Sims

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

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

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

PROJECT ENGINEERING Küttner GmbH & Co. KG

TO ADVERTISE HERE PHONE CHRIS HOLDING +44 (0) 7731 784798

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

Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

Wienerbergstraße 9 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

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY | 27

www.copperwor ldw ide. co m

REFRACTORIES AND INSULATION Contd Saint-Gobain Industrial Ceramics Limited

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

REFRACTORIES ENGINEERING Mettop GmbH

ROLLING MILL TECHNOLOGY Contd Primetals Technologies USA LLC

50 Prescott 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 – SECONDARY 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

SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS Alex Stewart (International) Corporation

Alex Stewart International

Web: www.kumera.com Contact: Hannu Mansikkaviita

Küttner GmbH & Co. KG

Alfredstr. 28 D-45130 Essen Germany

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

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

ROLLING MILL TECHNOLOGY

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

SCREENING

DANIELI FRÖHLING

Schenck Process Hernando de Aguirre 162 Of. 806

Josef Fröhling GmbH & Co. KG Scherl 12 D- 58540 Meinerzhagen, Germany Tel: 0049 (0)2354 7082 0 Fax: 0049 (0) 2354 7082 200 Email: contact@danieli-froehling.de Web: www.danieli-froehling.de Contact: Detlef Neumann

MINO S.p.A.

Pallaswiesenstraße 100 64293 Darmstadt Germany Tel: 0049 61 51 15 31 0 Fax: 0049 61 51 15 31 66 E-mail: vibrating@schenckprocess.com Web: www.schenckprocess.com Contact: Ingo Fjelsten

SMELTING – PRIMARY Küttner GmbH & Co. KG

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

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

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

WEIGHING AND FEEDING Schenck Process

Pallaswiesenstraße 100 64293 Darmstadt Germany Tel: 0049 61 51 15 31 0 Fax: 0049 61 51 15 31 66 E-mail: sales@schenckprocess.com Web: www.schenckprocess.com Contact: Martin Brauer

ONE ENTRY WITH LOGO FOR FOUR CONSECUTIVE ISSUES £185 / EUR e265 / USA $320 Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

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28 | PROCESSING UPDATE

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Mina Justa nears construction phase

A project engineer looks over the Quellaveco project. Photo: Fluor

In early May 2018, Peru-based Minsur S.A. announced an agreement to sell a 40% stake in its wholly-owned subsidiary Cumbres Andinas S.A.C. to Inversiones Alxar S.A. (Alxar), a subsidiary of Chile’s Empresas Copec S.A. for US$ 200 million, subject to various financial and regulatory approvals.

The agreement reduces Minsur’s investment requirements in the US$ 1.6 billion Mina Justa copper project. Cumbres Andina owns Marcobre S.A.C., which manages the project in Peru. Minsur, a majority-owned subsidiary of Peru’s Inversiones Breca S.A., will remain the Mina Justa project operator through the 60% stake it will continue to hold. It expects to begin construction in the second half of 2018, and forecasts the project will be operational by the end of 2020.

The Mina Justa Project, owned by Marcobre S.A.C. is located in the Ica Province in Peru, around 500 km from Lima. The site is near the town of Nazca, home of the world-famous Nazca Lines. Once completed, it will consist of two open pit mines and two processing facilities utilising a 6.0 Mtpy copper sulphide concentrator and 12.0 Mtpy vat leach SX-EW

oxide facility. Total production will be 100,000 tpy of copper contained in cathode and concentrates. Ausenco helped progress the project from Prefeasibility Study (PSF) through Definition Phase Study (DPS), Independent Peer Review (IPR) and into the Execution Phase.

A number of Peruvian copper projects are currently in different stages of execution: • Antamina expansion - Study phase (EPCM Contractor Ausenco) • Las Bambas - Ball mill project (EPCM: Ausenco) • Quellaveco - US$ 5.4 bn going into full execution (EPCM: Fluor) • Toromocho - In expansion (EPCM: Fluor) www.ausenco.com www.fluor.com

ICSG on refined copper market to April According to the ICSG July 2018 Copper Bulletin, world refined production is estimated to have increased by 1.5% in the first four months of 2018 with primary production (electrolytic and electrowinning) rising by 0.5% and secondary production (from scrap) increasing by 7%. The main contributor to growth in world refined production was China due to its continued expansion of capacity.

Production in Chile was also up by 6.8% supported by a 7.2 % increase in electrowinning (SX-EW) production, mainly because comparative output in 2017 was constrained.

In addition, primary electrolytic production increased by 6% mainly due to improved production at Codelco.

Production in Indonesia and Japan was substantially higher, recovering from constrained output last year due to a strike and maintenance shutdowns respectively.

Increases in electrowinning (SX-EW) output in

the DRC and Zambia also contributed to world refined production growth. However, overall growth was partially offset by declines in India (shutdown of Vedanta’s smelter/ refinery in April), Peru, Poland and the United States. On a regional basis, refined output is estimated to have increased in Africa (10%) and Asia (2%) while remaining essentially unchanged in Europe and in the Americas.

World apparent refined usage is estimated to have increased by about 1% in the first four months of 2018. China was the biggest contributor to growth with apparent usage (excluding changes in unreported stocks) increasing by around 3%, driven by a 13% increase in net refined copper imports (as Chinese customs temporarily suspended the publication of copper products trade data since March, imports/exports for April were calculated based on reversed trade data).

Preliminary data indicates that world ex-China usage declined by 1.5%. Among other major copper using countries, usage increased in India and the EU but declined in Japan, the United States and South Korea. World refined copper balance for the first four months of 2018 indicates a surplus of about 60,000 tonnes.

In developing its global market balance, ICSG uses an apparent demand calculation for China that does not take into account changes in unreported stocks. To facilitate global market analysis, the Refined World Balance Adjusted for Chinese Bonded Stock Changes adjusts the world refined copper balance based on an average estimate of changes in unreported inventories provided by three consultants with expertise in China’s copper market. In the first four months of 2018, the world refined copper balance adjusted for changes in Chinese bonded stocks indicated a market surplus of around 50,000 tonnes. www.icsg.org

Escondida stands out in heap leaching Heap leaching has evolved rapidly in recent years, overcoming a number of challenges, including volatile markets, tighter environmental regulations, lower ore grades, productivity/efficiency rates, increases in energy costs, and water scarcity. The process is now being extended to primary sulphide ores.

The ability to use heap leaching, together with solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX/ EW) to go from ore to high grade metal at the mine-site, makes it particularly attractive, but testwork and scale-up procedures are still are still in a state of flux, with no universally recognised standards, according to Alan Taylor of ALTA, speaking in 2016.

The Escondida Mine in the Atacama Desert, Chile includes an oxide ore heap leach plant processing approximately 20 Mtpy of ore.

Mining operations include both sulphide and oxide ore heap leach operations. The current plant throughput is approximately 44 Mtpy of

The first large scale application of modern heap leach technology was in the early 1980s at the Lo Aguirre Project in Chile.

ore. Ausenco has been working with Minera Escondida over the last 12 years providing them world class heap leach engineering services that started with the design sulphide leach pad in 2005. Ausenco developed the Escondida Bio-leach Sulfide Project (EBP) heap leach pad that included innovative design of material handling and an air-injection system to Copper Worldwide Vol 8 No 3

promote bio-leaching. It is the largest single use sulphide leach pad in the world with over 9 M m2 of pad. Subsequently, Ausenco provided conceptual through detailed engineering services along with construction support, construction quality assurance (CQA) for the Oxide Leach Expansion (OLE) project, which has over 2 M m2 pad.

Based on the OLE’s operations, Ausenco performed a selection study looking at the best technology and economics of continued operations of the OLE, a single use pad, verses operating an on/off pad, which lead to the development of the OLAP, a 1.2 M m2 on/off leach pad. In addition to designing the leach pad, Ausenco’s expert knowledge in stacking systems helped optimise on/off operations by moving away from traditional stacking methodology along with integration of the spent ore disposal facility. www.ausenco.com

Peru Metals & Mining Summit 2018 28 September 2018 • Hotel Atton San Isidro, Lima, Peru

CRU is pleased to announce a new one day summit to take place in San Isidro, Lima, Peru. The inaugural Peruvian mining summit will welcome a diverse audience from across the mining supply chain to discuss market issues and opportunities, and to facilitate business networking.

Who should attend: • • • • • • • • • •

Diversified miners Copper, lead, zinc and silver miners Lithium, manganese miners/junior miners EPC contractors Machinery and technology suppliers Banks Traders Technical consultants Automotive companies Utilities

Interested in Sponsoring or Exhibiting?

To raise your corporate profile why don’t you take the opportunity to sponsor or exhibit at the summit? A range of options are available which can be tailored to meet your objectives and increase your brand awareness.

For more information on the packages available, or to discuss the best solution for your business please contact: Paul Terry Sponsorship & Exhibitions Manager T: +44 (0)20 7903 2131 E: paul.terry@crugroup.com

Key themes of the summit will include: • The outlook for the new energy economy globally • CEO and CFO panels on the new energy economy, costs, finance and supply side opportunities • The role of the Andean mining industry as a supplier to this sector • Which base and minor metals offer the best investment opportunities and why?

• An analysis of price support levels, relative grades, input prices, projects, costs and margins, across countries and commodities • The indirect impact of cobalt mining on the copper sector • The outlook for project finance in these sectors

Supporters

For more information and to book your place, visit: www.perumetalsandmining.com

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