Message Jeu 3 Mar 2011 08:18

China Nonferrous Metals install and commission floatation ci

China Nonferrous Metals install and commission floatation circuit at Luanshya
Thursday, 03 Mar 2011
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China nonferrous Metals Africa Corporation installed and commissioned USD 100,000 floatation circuit at its concentrator plant at Luanshya Copper Mine in Zambia to promote efficiency in metal production and make the mine environmental friendly as the company seeks to boost production of the metal.

Mr Victor Chongo senior metallurgist of the company said that the new equipment, a state of the art has been installed at the concentrator after the expiry of its 53 year span as part of the company's modernization program at its unit in the Southern African country.

The new equipment which marked the upgrading of the entire floatation column at the concentrator uses new technology to separate valuable milled copper and cobalt ore from the minute elements of various metals milled together with rocks containing desired material.

Mr Chongo said that the new equipment separate the copper and cobalt concentrate from undesirable metals that include iron and manganese which are minute and unrecoverable amounts known as tailings. The new equipment replaces the one set up more than 30 years ago since it was installed at one the country's oldest which became operational in 1936. The new equipment was installed together with the modernized floatation column which further cleans the copper concentrates.

He said that the new equipment will not only help in making Luanshya Copper Mines meet the environment regulations but also help in making Luanshya one of the most environmentally friendly cities on the copperbelt and in the country.

The Central Bank recently announced that Zambia, Africa's richest copper producer is expected to increase copper production to 900,000 tonnes this year and further boost output to 6 million tonnes in the next 5 years as the country adopts policies that have allowed exploration and investment in the sector by various highly reputed companies.

Mr Caleb Fundanga governor of Central Bank said that Zambia forecasts to increase output of the metal to 900,000 tonnes and hype production to 6 million tones in about 5 years spurred by ongoing investments at various units.

He told journalists recently that production of copper may rise to more than 900,000 tones this year from the current 819, 000 tonnes recorded last year with mining companies stepping up their production at various units. Mining companies were maximizing on production given the increased investment in their operations and are taking advantage of the good metal prices on the international market.

Mr Fundanga said that the mines are maximizing on the good investment climate in the country to expand their projects and increase production. Given the ongoing exploration of minerals in various parts of the country coupled with the opening of more mines, Zambia will soon hit a record 6 million tonnes per annum in the next few years.

According to the report, in the Q4 2010, Zambia's copper output dropped by 13.5% to 197,500.2 tonnes from 228,369.7 tonnes produced the previous quarter. Nonetheless, the output recorded was 9.6% higher than 180,188.2 tonnes of copper produced the Q4 of 2009. On annual basis, copper production at 819,159.2 tonnes was 17.4% higher than 697,700.7 tonnes of copper produced a year earlier.

The fall in copper production was chiefly on account of rains at most mines during the period coupled with other operational concerns that affected production capacities. Cobalt output however rose by 1.5% to 2,401.79 tonnes during the quarter under review from 2,367.26 tonnes in the previous quarter. The level of output reflected an increased output of 26.7% when compared with 1,896.24 tonnes produced in the Q4 of 2009.

On annual basis cobalt output at 8,781.85 tonnes was 49.4% higher the 5,879.14 tonnes of cobalt produced in 2009. The increase was on account of the resumption of production at Konkola Copper Mine, Chambishi and other key cobalt producing units in Zambia. On revenue, copper export earnings at USD 1,654.3 million were 7.9% higher than USD 1,534.9 million recorded in the Q3 of the year reflecting an increase in the average realized price by 7% to USD 7,380.92 per tonne from USD 6,912.96 per tonne recorded in the Q3.

However, cobalt export earnings dropped by 1.4% to USD 75.2 million in the Q4 of 2010 from USD 75.3 million in the previous quarter. This followed a slide in the average realized price by 3.0% to USD 32,165.02 per tonne from USD 33,467.08 per tonne in the preceding quarter despite a rise in export volumes by 2.6% to 2,308 tonne from 2,249.9 tonnes from 2,249.9 ton in the Q3.