Maravi

KCM plans setting up new concentrator

KCM plans setting up new concentrator
By Kabanda Chulu and Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tuesday September 02, 2008 [04:00]

KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has embarked on plans to set up a new concentrator with the capacity to process 3.6 million tonnes of copper ore per annum. KCM communications advisor Sam Equamo said the new project would be located in Chingola and would be used for the treatment of ore from the Nchanga Open Pit whose capacity is expected to increase from the current six million to about 10 million tonnes of ore per annum.

He said the new concentrator project would increase the leach copper production capacity and would involve a new hydrometallurgical complex for the treatment of low-grade refractory ore.

"The new concentrator will have features like crushing, milling and floatation while the hydrometallurgical complex will have crushing, milling, leaching and electro-winning and these projects will be completed and fully commissioned within two years," said Equamo.

It is expected that after completion of these projects, KCM's Nchanga Integrated Business Unit's leach copper production capacity would increase from 100,000 to 150,000 metric tonnes per annum.

KCM owns the Nchanga, Konkola, Nampundwe and part of Nkana mines, and has embarked on significant expansion projects that would result in the mining company to be producing 500,000 metric tonnes of finished copper by 2010.

It is projected that Zambia would be producing over one million tonnes of copper by 2010.

Labels: KCM, MINING

posted by MrK @ 4:51 AM