Copper miner Kamoa Copper – a subsidiary of Ivanhoe Mines – has selected mining machinery company Metso Outotec to supply a high-capacity direct blister furnace for the expansion of the Kamoa-Kakula copper mining complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The value of this type of a delivery is typically between €30-million and €40-million. The order has been booked in Metso's third-quarter orders received.
“Nonferrous metals play a key role in the green transition and a major increase in global copper production is required to support this transition. We are pleased to support Kamoa Copper in their ambitious expansion project, in which high-capacity and reliable, sustainable processes play a vital role. Our collaboration has been . . . throughout the initial stages of the process, including the initial study work, basic engineering as well as pilot testing,” says Metso Outotec smelting VP Jyrki Makkonen.
Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery consists of key equipment and automation for the direct blister furnace, which has been designed for the production of blister copper in a single flash furnace without the need for separate converting stages.
The furnace, with throughput of 500 0000 t/y of copper, will have the largest licensed flash smelting capacity globally, says Metso Outotec.
The scope also includes intelligent safety and monitoring automation systems for the furnace.
Metso Outotec has delivered more than 60 flash furnaces globally since the 1950s. This is the most used technology in pyrometallurgical copper production, according to the company. The Metso Outotec flash smelting process is the cleanest smelting method available and part of the company’s Planet Positive offering.