Name and location
Kamoto-Virgule Oliveira (KOV) copper/cobalt mine rehabilitation project, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Project description
The large-scale project involves the rehabilitation of the KOV openpits, one of the largest high-grade copper deposits in the world.

One of the biggest tasks of the KOV rehabilitation will be the pumping of 12-million cubic metres of water in the pits.

The company will also construct a state-of-the-art refinery that will be capable of processing 265 000 t/y of copper and will be one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Value
The company has revised the capital cost estimate for the entire project to $1,6-billion, from $1,3-billion.
The increase is in line with cost pressures being experienced across the mining industry and is driven primarily by significant escalation in the cost of construction materials, equipment, consultants and contractors.

Duration
The first production from the openpit is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2009. The refinery will be completed in 2009.

Breakdown of main contracts
Not stated.

Client
Katanga Mining and Nikanor have merged, after 72,4% of the votes cast at a meeting of Katanga shareholders were in favour of the deal.

The deal will allow the consolidation of Katanga's Kamoto mine and Nikanor's KOV operation, which were previously part of the same mine complex, to create a single site operation.

Latest developments
ABB has won a $15-million order to provide six thyristor rectifier plants and related engineering and commissioning services for KOV.

The thyristor rectifier plants will convert available ac power from the local utility to the dc power needed for the refining process, and distribute it throughout the refinery.

ABB's operations in South Africa will deliver and manage the company's portion of the project.

The scope of supply includes the design, engineering, installation supervision and commissioning of six 52KA 225-V dc rectifier plants.

ABB will also provide fibre optics current sensors, dc isolators, power factor correction and harmonic filter plants and 66-V isolators.

Most of the equipment supplied by ABB will be manufactured in South Africa.

Construction of the project started in early 2007, and is scheduled for completion in 2009.

Participants
Group Five and joint venture partners De Moura Consortium (installation of floating pontoons, overland piping system and mechanical equipment for the dewatering of the KOV pit), Africon (consulting engineer and quantity surveyor), Bateman Engineering, Snowden, SRK and Mintek.

Construction materials
Not stated.

On budget and on time?
The project is moving ahead according to plan.

Contact details for project information
Katanga Mining, tel +44 20 7440 5800,
fax +44 20 7440 5801 or
email info@katangamining.com.