KCM suspends smelter after furnace woes
Wed Jan 26, 2011 8:36am GMT
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1 of 1Full SizeLUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia's Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), which is owned by London-listed Vedanta Resources, said it had temporarily suspended operations at its Nchanga smelter due to problems with a furnace.
"The situation has been contained, and efforts to resume operations are in progress. Operations will resume soon," the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Nchanga processes 311,000 tonnes of copper per year.
KCM said operations were suspended following foaming at the flash furnace.
"Investigations are underway on the cause of the foaming. The foaming was contained within 45 minutes and no injury occurred," it said.