Name of the Project
Katanga cobalt debottlenecking projects.
Location
Democratic Republic of Congo.
Project Owner/s
Katanga Mining.
Project Description
The objective of the cobalt projects is to upgrade the existing cobalt plant to reduce bottlenecks through modifying the precipitation, thickening, filtration, drying and bagging processes.
This will align the capacity of the cobalt plant with the average planned life-of-mine cobalt production of 30 000 t/y.
Following these improvements, the cobalt circuit will be fully integrated with the existing whole-ore-leach processing facilities at the Luilu metallurgical plant.
Potential Job Creation
Not stated.
Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.
Capital Expenditure
Not stated.
Planned Start/End Date
The projects are expected to be completed and in full production during the second quarter of 2020.
Latest Developments
The commissioning of two filter presses was completed earlier this year, while the third filter press is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2019. The commissioning of the magnesium oxide plant was completed in the first half of 2019.
At the end of the second quarter and in July 2019, the recently commissioned cobalt dryers suffered mechanical breakdowns, which has prevented Katanga from drying cobalt hydroxide until the expected completion of repairs to the dryers in the fourth quarter.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.
On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.
Contact Details for Project Information
Katanga Mining, tel +41 41 766 7110 or email ir@katangamining.com.