TMS Awards 2023Port of StocktonBühler GmbHVan AalstCimbriaPort of South Louisiana
  • Van Aalst
  • Port of Stockton
  • Geneva Dry
  • Vigan
  • TMS Awards 2023
  • TBA Group

Kamoa Copper reaches new monthly record

Kamoa Copper reaches new monthly record

(Posted on 08/11/21)

Chairman of the Board, Ben Munanga and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Farren have announced that Kamoa’s phase 1, 3.8 million-tonne-per-annum (Mtpa) concentrator plant has met, or exceeded, all design criteria and is now in steady-state operation.

Kamoa is projected to be the world’s highest-grade major copper mine, with an initial mining rate of 3.8 Mtpa at an estimated, average feed grade of more than 6.0% copper over the first five years of operations, and 5.9% copper over the initial 10 years of operations. Phase 1 is expected to produce approximately 200,000 tonnes of copper per year, while the Phase 2 expansion is forecast to increase production to approximately 400,000 tonnes of copper annually. Based on independent benchmarking, the project’s phased expansion scenario to 19 Mtpa would position Kamoa-Kakula as the world’s second-largest copper mining complex, with peak annual copper production of more than 800,000 tonnes.

In October, 323,368 tonnes of ore was milled at an average feed grade of 5.89% copper, exceeding the monthly design run rate of 316,667 tonnes. During the last ten days of October, the mine produced an average of 611 tonnes of copper in concentrate per day. On 25th October, a production record of 729 tonnes of copper in concentrate was achieved, setting a new daily output record. “This excellent achievement highlights the level of production we are targeting in future,” Farren explained.

In the reporting month ending 20th October – marking Kamoa Copper's fifth full month of production - a record 16,211 tonnes of copper in filtered concentrate was produced, approaching the Phase 1 target output of 16,666 tonnes per month, or 200,000 tonnes per year. The average floated concentrate copper grade in October was 51.5%. A total of 62,974 tonnes of copper in concentrate had been produced year-to-date for distribution to either the Lualaba Copper Smelter or international markets.

CEO, Mark Farren commented on the progress achieved: “October was an important milestone month for us in many ways. The project team managed to commission the second concentrate filter press which is now fully operational. While it took a few weeks to fine tune the second filter press, the plant performance met steady-state expectations despite intermittent regional power outages during the first three weeks of October.”

The second 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant (Phase 2) is progressing well, with the overall project approximately 60% complete. Engineering and procurement activities have effectively been completed and fabrication is over 92% complete. The erection of structural steel and installation of platework and equipment remain the key construction priorities.

More than 550 truckloads with Phase 2 construction equipment and materials have already been delivered to site, with 31 more truckloads still expected.

A total of 395,000 tonnes grading 5.73% copper was mined during the period from September 21 to October 20, including 174,000 tonnes grading 6.91% copper from the Kakula Mine’s high-grade centre and 35,000 tonnes grading 3.84% copper from the Kansoko Mine. The project’s surface stockpiles now contain approximately 3.73 million tonnes of high-grade and medium-grade ore at an estimated, blended average of 4.72% copper. Contained copper in the stockpiles at the end of August now totals more than 175,000 tonnes (the current copper price is approximately US$9,500 per tonne).

Latest News

ADM launch of regenerative agriculture programme in Brazil

(Posted on 26/11/23)

ADM, a leader in sustainable agriculture supply chains, has announced an important expansion of its... Read more


$140m Investment agreement to build all-in-one nickel refinery

(Posted on 17/11/23)

Trafigura, a market leader in the global commodities industry, has agreed to invest in an all-in-one... Read more


ADM and Marathon take next step in meeting renewable fuels demand

(Posted on 17/11/23)

ADM and Marathon Petroleum Corp. have celebrated the opening of their joint venture soybean processing... Read more


US Grains Council bids farewell to Castillo

(Posted on 13/11/23)

Former U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Director of Global Programmes Alejandra Castillo was named the successor... Read more


Rio Tinto and Codelco complete Nuevo Cobre exploration agreement

(Posted on 13/11/23)

Rio Tinto has completed the acquisition of PanAmerican Silver’s stake in Agua de la Falda and... Read more


New Cargill soybean processing plant connects farmers to growing demand

(Posted on 05/11/23)

Cargill has completed an expansion and modernization project at its integrated soybean crush and refined... Read more


BHP approves US$4.9bn investment in stage two of Jansen potash project

(Posted on 31/10/23)

BHP has approved an investment of US$4.9 billion (C$6.4 billion) for stage two of the Jansen potash... Read more


Partnership on sustainable supply of materials for the energy transition

(Posted on 31/10/23)

Rio Tinto and cable solution provider Prysmian are partnering to build a more sustainable North American... Read more


US soy industry welcomes trade and food aid support from USDA

(Posted on 26/10/23)

The American Soybean Association has applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s efforts to... Read more


Joc O’Rourke joins Rio Tinto Board

(Posted on 26/10/23)

Rio Tinto has appointed James “Joc” O’Rourke as a non-executive director with effect... Read more


TelestackTBA GroupSailors SocietyIMPA EventsViganGeneva Dry
  • Cimbria
  • Telestack
  • Port of South Louisiana
  • IMPA Events

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping