We mine for copper in Zambia through our majority shareholding in Mopani Copper Mines – situated in the north of the country near … On 1 April 2000, Mopani purchased the ZCCM assets at Mufulira and Nkana, consisting of the underground mine, concentrator, smelter, refinery and cobalt plant, from the government. Primary stage crushing of ore is done underground while the secondary and tertiary stage crushing take place at the Concentrator. Concentrator recovery is approximately 94.5%. Mining Licensing Committee secretary Michael Chibonga sent a notice dated 14 April to Mopani chief executive Nathan Bullock. This is done by putting anodes and cathodes alternately in a cell, in which copper sulphate electrolyte solution is circulated and current is passed. Ball mills grind the crushed ore for subsequent flotation to produce a copper concentrate grade of 40-43%. empresa mopani copper mines; empresa mopani copper mines. 2 Inter­views. LHD Operators. [29] The plant is currently on care and maintenance. ZAMBIA – Zambian authorities have given the go-ahead to restart production at the leach project belonging to MOPANI COPPER MINES. Mufulira copper is considered amongst the purest copper in the world. Mopani Copper Mines PLC ("Mopani") is a Zambian registered company owned by Carlisa Investments Corporation (a joint venture company comprising Glencore International AG (73.1%) and First Quantum Minerals Ltd (16.9%)) and ZCCM-IH (10%). The Synclinorium is fully commissioned and actively hoisting, while the Mindolo and Mufurila projects are to be commissioned by end of 2019; Mopani Copper Mines Plc is a Zambian registered copper mine owned by ZCCM-IH (10%), Glencore Plc (73.1%) and First Quantum Minerals Ltd (16.9%). Is this your company? This product known as anode slime is washed, dried packed and exported for recovering precious metals. In April 2000, Mopani purchased assets of the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Limited (ZCCM) comprising underground mines, a concentrator, a smelter and a refinery at Mufulira mine site and underground mines, open pits, a concentrator and a cobalt plant at Nkana mine site in Kitwe. Prior to privatization in 2000, 100% of all SO2 went into the atmosphere, and the latest information confirms that the situation has improved since, including notably through the investment financed by EIB's loan to Mopani copper mine for modernization of the copper smelter. 89 mine workers from the night shift were killed, and a sinkhole at the bottom of the drained pond remained, allowing surface water to continue to pour into the workings. *, Copper and cobalt mineralisation occur within the ore shale. Privacy Policy Copper and cobalt concentrates are produced from a bulk concentrate by a segregation process. Mopani Copper Mines Plc (MCM) has underground mines, a concentrator, a smelter and a refinery at Mufulira mine site. Three workers were 16.9%.) ZCCM-IH currently has 10% of Mopani, with Glencore holding 73.1% and Vancouver-based First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Mopani devised a strategy to revitalise the control activities, face the malaria challenge head-on, and gradually stamp out the disease. The Mopani Copper Mine has generated over $560 million in tax payments to the Zambian government since privatization in 2000 through royalties, import/customs duties and income taxes. In April 2011 Mopani announced its intentions to sink a new $295 million shaft at Mufulira, this should extend the life of the mine by some twenty-five years. Terms of Use [7] However, the fraudulent dissimulation of thousands of million dollars[clarification needed] by MCM is under investigation. Vertical shafts from the surface provide access to each of the four underground mines. The anodes are then sent to the refinery for electro-refining. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN MINING DEPARTMENT. Copper production from internal sources was supplemented by the purchase of some 18,000 tonnes (20,000 short tons) of copper in high-grade oxide concentrate bought from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and 185,325 tonnes of copper concentrate toll treated from Copper-miner Equinox in 2007.[6]. Production Team Lead at Mopani Copper Mines Zambia 21 connections. The Nkana Concentrator is located in Kitwe and treats copper-cobalt sulphide ore using a bulk flotation and segregation flotation flowsheet to produce separate copper and cobalt concentrates. The predominant mega-structure of the mining area is the northwest-plunging Nkana syncline. Efficient Thickener. As a result of the north-westerly plunge of the Nkana syncline, the present land surface represents a horizontal section through progressively higher structural levels of the syncline from southeast to northwest. Mopani Copper Mines Jan 2017 – Feb 2018 1 year 2 months - Underground and Surface Mining Audits to ensure contractors and MCM adheres to approved standards and Conditions in work places. Following privatisation the Zambian Government retained a stake in the mining industry through ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH) which is an investments holdings company, quoted on the Lusaka, London, and Euronext stock exchanges. Mopani Copper Mines has not been consistent on this issue since the new management came in.” Kambwili asked the government to be aggressive on the matter. View Jobs at Mopani Copper Mines. Mopani Copper Mine is an integrated copper and cobalt producer located in the Copperbelt of Zambia. This structure is asymmetric, with a curved axial plane inclined steeply to the northwest in the trough of the syncline but upright to westward dipping at higher structural levels. Grid Type Ball Mill. P 0 Box 22000, Kitwe. In this documentary local residents complain of frequent breathing problems, chest pain and eye irritation due to exposure to the emissions. The cathodes thus produced are bundled and are mostly exported. Add a Review. Box 22000 Kitwe, Zambia 1.3 Telephone Number of Developer +260 2 247000/247002 1.4 Fax Number and Electronic Mail Address +260 2 220725 mopani@mopani.com.zm 1.5 Name of Owner of Mine Vertical crater retreat is the predominant mining method while sublevel open-stopping and sublevel caving methods are also used.[26]. Its reserves underground include 108,145,000 tonnes of ore at 1.83% copper and 0.12 cobalt. Kitwe. Submerged Slurry Pump. Report this profile About 15 years of experience in the Smelter department. Worked as a Waste Heat Boiler Operator Field and Control Room from 2006 to 2013. The first is the original drill and blast underground mining method (MCR – Mechanised Continuous Retreat or modified Sub Level Caving) used in Mufulira main, secondly Room and Pillar with waste rock backfill employed at Mufulira East Portal, and thirdly Insitu Leaching of old stopes. The Concentrator operates in a conventional manner, and has a capacity of 8,500 tonnes of ore per day. At Nkana Mopani operates a concentrator, Cobalt Plant and Leach plants. Join to Connect Mopani Copper Mines. Invested in 3 new shafts: Synclinorium, Mindolo Deeps and Mufurila Deeps. At Nkana, the concentrator operates in a conventional manner, and has a capacity of 12 000 mt per day. In the refinery, copper anodes coming from the smelter are electro-refined to produce cathodes having 99.99% Cu and conforming to LME grade A. This is removed and collected at the end of anode cycle. The production quantity that would be lost due to the suspension was not clear, Reuters reported. During electrolysis precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, selenium, palladium etc. Ball mills grind the crushed ore for subsequent flotation to produce a copper concentrate grade of approximately 30%. “The operating, regulatory and macro-economic environments […] [citation needed], MCM produced 134,800 tonnes (148,600 short tons) of copper and 2,040 tonnes (2,250 short tons) of cobalt in 2003. Hydraulic Motor Driving Center Thickener. Documentary "Zambia: Good Copper, Bad Copper", Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Mopani spending $560m to triple production", "Equinox signs final offtake agreements for Zambia copper project", http://www.prixalbertlondres.org/Les-laureats/Les-laureats-du-prix-Albert-Londres-de-1999-a-2012/ArticleId/2471/les-laureats-2012.aspx, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uamzirLswjk#, http://www.one.org/us/2012/10/12/the-erin-brockovich-of-zambia/, http://www.facing-finance.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/16/files/2012/03/Health_concerns_environment_shut_down_Zambia_copper_mine__Bikya_Masr.pdf, Journal of the Geological Society; March 1984, "Mopani to spend $ 295 million to sink a shaft at its Nkana mine site", "Mopani Copper may spend about USD 295 million to sink new shaft at its Nkana mine", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mopani_Copper_Mines&oldid=976627825, Buildings and structures in Copperbelt Province, Wikipedia articles with possible conflicts of interest from December 2011, Articles needing cleanup from December 2011, Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field from December 2011, Wikipedia pages needing cleanup from December 2011, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2011, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from May 2016, Zambia articles missing geocoordinate data, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Mr Chris Vermeulen (Chief Executive Officer), This page was last edited on 4 September 2020, at 02:02. At the refinery there are also three SX plants and one electrowinning plant. [21], Two years prior to this, a series of sinkholes had started to develop within the #3 Tailings Pond as the result of underground hanging wall collapse, and two instances of mud ingress had been recorded.[22]. The company operates the Mufulira mine, smelter, concentrator and copper refinery and the Nkana mine, concentrator and cobalt plant. Submerged Slurry Pump. Mopani Copper Mines Plc. A complex occupies the axial zone of the syncline but this folding dies out on its flanks. In addition, in the deeper sections of the Mindola mine and Central Shaft, sub vertical shafts extend services to the 5500L and 3580L respectively. Nkana has been in operation since 1931 and Mufulira, which has been in operation since 1933 lies 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Kitwe. Mopani Copper Mines Plc was originally part of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Limited (ZCCM), and was state-owned until its privatisation in 2000. It invested in 3 new shafts: Synclinorium, Mindolo Deeps and Mufurila Deeps. 6 Salaries. This would go some way to recoup impairments of $1.14 billion at Mopani which contributed to Glencore posting a first-half loss. Vertical crater retreat (VCR), both caving and post-fill, have been the predominant mining method utilised within the Nkana mine, but is now being converted to a combination of sub-level caving (SLC) and open stoping techniques. Production was interrupted early in January due to a leak of pregnant leach solution. This is not verified however, and is only supported by the company itself. Efficient Thickener. The Nkana Concentrator is one of the most important mineral processing units of Mopani, as it contributes to produce high purity cobalt metal. [13], However, under investigation is the fraudulent dissimulation of thousands of million dollars by MCM,[14] and the President of the EIB has instructed the services to decline any further financing request from this company or one of its subsidiaries.[15]. Mopani Copper Mines Plc is a Zambian registered copper mining company owned by Carlisa Investments Corporation (90%) and ZCCM-IH (10%). Average underground production for the last five years is 3.4 million tonnes per annum (“Mtpa”) of ore at 1.94 %Cu and 0.12 %Co. Cobalt occurs as carrollite and cobaltiferous pyrite in approximately equal proportions. Mopani Copper Mines Plc was originally part of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Limited (ZCCM), and was state-owned until its privatisation in 2000.[4]. ZCCM-IH currently holds a 10% stake in Mopani Copper Mines. The copper is then taken to the concentrator. Mopani also runs two schools for 1,850 pupils, HIV and malaria prevention and control programmes, supports local orphanages, charities and sports clubs. Mopani Copper Mines says it is on course to commission its $323 million deep mine copper project by the second quarter of 2015. 2 Photos. The company, in which Glencore has a 75% stake, said disruptions to international mobility and the decline in the copper price had forced its hand. [5] At that time, MCM invested in a number of oxide copper projects at several of its properties, including an in-situ leaching project at Mufulira and leaching at Nkana, and has achieved significant production increases at its underground mining operations in Kitwe and Mufulira. There are three types of mining methods currently in use at Mufulira mine site. Mopani Copper Mines Plc 1.2 Address of Developer Mopani Copper Mines Plc Corporate Office Nkana West Corner of Central Street and 5th Avenue P. O. Full profiles of select projects. It is 08:00 on a Thursday morning, and Mining Weekly is being taken on a visit to Mopani Copper Mines’ (MCM’s) Mufulira Deep project. During this notice period, it would discuss “potential solutions to its current challenges” following “constructive discussions” with the Zambian government, the company said. Mine head Gear - South ore Body at Nkana. Effective shareholding in Mopani by Glencore and FQM is, therefore, 73.1% and 16.9%, respectively. © 2020 MDO Data Online Inc. Additional Resources for Suppliers & Investors. The solution was suspected of contaminating local drinking water. The cobalt plant treats the cobalt concentrates to produce high purity cobalt metal. Facsimile +2602 247354. [18] This improvement has been strongly contradicted by recent reports on the effects of pollution on local residents.[19][20]. The company installed ISA smelt furnace, Matte Settling Electric Furnace, oxygen plant, at the Mufulira smelter during 2004 and 2005, at a total cost of US$213 million. The project has successfully established the capacity to eliminate 170,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide a year, materially contributing to the protection of the environment. The blister copper is then further processed in Anode furnaces and, thereafter, the copper is cast into anodes in a twin casting wheel. Mopani Copper Mines PLC (“Mopani”) is a Zambian registered company owned by Carlisa Investments Corporation (a joint venture company comprising Glencore International AG (73.1%) and First Quantum Minerals Ltd (16.9%)) and ZCCM-IH (10%). Zambia intends to revoke the mining licenses of Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), a subsidiary of Glencore, as the firm did not give sufficient notice before suspending its mining operations due to the coronavirus Covid-19 crisis. Mopani Smelter in Mufulira. Agitation Tank For … The cathode plates are taken out from the cells at a certain interval. Due to serious concerns about Glencore's governance which have been brought to light recently and which go far beyond the Mopani investment, the President of the EIB has instructed the services to decline any further financing request from this company or one of its subsidiaries. 28 Reviews--Jobs. Maambo Chooye¹, Rakesh Patel¹, Addin Pranowo² and Brendan O’Rourke³* Minority shareholders are spread throughout the world, in various locations. Presently the Mufulira Mine employs about 5,000 people directly. The mining methods employed at Mufulira Mine are variants of Mechanised Continuous Retreat (“MCR”). The smelter smelts the copper concentrate mixed with silica in the Isasmelt furnace. It was reported that Zambian environment authorities temporarily closed part of the mining operation after health complaints from local residents in March 2012. Thank you for browsing through mine profiles compiled by the Mining Data Online team. The Synclinorium is fully commissioned and actively hoisting, while the Mindolo and Mufurila projects are to be commissioned by end of 2019; The Mopani tree is an indigenous Zambian hard wood with a long life and is extremely resilient. Minority shareholders are spread throughout the world, in various locations. Local officials are seen testifying that measured concentrations of sulfur dioxide frequently reach levels many times higher than recommended values. In the award-winning[10] documentary "Zambia: Good Copper, Bad Copper",[11][12] by investigative journalists Audrey Gallet and Alice Odiot, the large impact of high emissions of sulfur dioxide and dust into the air and water pollution due to the mining operations is shown. [3] The name "Mopani" was chosen by vote amongst employees. When Mopani Copper Mines commenced operations in 2000, the region’s malaria control activities had completely come to a halt, and the disease’s incidence rate had risen to 216 people in a population of 1000. [16] The product from the ISA furnace is matte and slag which goes to the Matte Settling Electric Furnace. Glencore has assigned a value of $704 million to the operations. Carlisa Investments Corporation is jointly owned by Glencore Plc (81%) and First Quantum Minerals Ltd (19%). Overnight on 25 September 1970, the bottom of Tailings Pond #3 failed, causing approximately 1 million tons of tailings and mud to drain into the mine. “Nothing has been happening at Mopani since the new management came in. At Nkana, copper and cobalt ore is produced from five sources: Four underground mines namely: Mindola North Shaft, Mindola Sub Vertical Shaft, Central Shaft, South Ore Body (SOB) Shaft and Open Pits dotted across the Nkana Oxide Cap. Slag is tapped out and discarded. Nkana mine is one of the largest in Africa,[23] a copper mine located 1 km south-west of Kitwe. [25] Copper mineralisation in the deposits changes from mostly chalcopyrite in the South Orebody, to chalcopyrite-bornite in the Central area and to bornite-chalcopyrite at Mindola. 9.45% rise in production comes as good news to Zambia, ... spotlight as the country’s financial situation deteriorated this year and the pandemic prompted Glencore to shut its Mopani Copper Mines. THE Mine Workers’ Union of Zambia (MUZ) says government’s intention to buy 90 per cent shares in Mopani Copper Mines from Glencore will redeem the mine’s operations. Conventional methods are employed in the concentrator namely; crushing, grinding, flotation and dewatering. 3 Benefits. Mufulira. Glencore is the majority owner with 73.1% and First Quantum Minerals owns 16.9%. Overview Overview. Primary stage crushing of ore is done underground while the secondary and tertiary stage crushing takes place at the concentrator. The Corporate Head Office is established in Kitwe and lies adjacent to the Nkana assets. Lusaka - Zambia: Mopani has halted copper production across all of its operations in Zambia following the death of four miners in separate accidents. PLS from the Agitation Leach, Mufulira West heap leach and In-Situ Leach operations are first treated at SX Plants and then taken to the electrowinning plant for the production of copper cathodes. According to the company itself, MCM is spending around US$16–20 million per year on social projects which includes: operating two hospitals and seven township clinics, five first-aid centres and public health departments at Nkana and Mufulira. Mopani Copper Mines, which produced 119,000 tonnes of copper in 2018, is 73.1% owned by Glencore, 16.9% by First Quantum Minerals and 10% by Zambia’s mining investment arm ZCCM-IH. Here is how we contribute to the country and help support its people. settle down along with other impurities at the bottom of the cells. 1. Company Overview FAQ. Mopani Mines produces and sells copper and cobalt to the international market, being one of the biggest mines and exporters in the world. A second serious form of pollution is due to leaks of sulfuric acid, used in the extraction of copper from the ore, into the drinking water. This facility was positioned directly above the underground workings. Glencore’s Zambian unit Mopani Copper Mines has suspended operations at its Mindola North Shaft in Kitwe following an underground fire accident that killed three workers. [17], The Mufulira smelter was first built in 1937. Operations Superintendant Mopani Copper Mines April 2012 – Present 7 years 8 months. The Mopani project is an integrated copper and cobalt producer. [8] and the President of the EIB has instructed the services to decline any further financing request from this company or its subsidiaries.[9]. Serious concerns have been raised by local residents and activists about high levels of air and water pollution directly caused by the mining operations at the Mopani Copper Mine. Projects at the permitting or construction stage. Mopani Copper Mines. Grid Type Ball Mill. What do you do in Zambia? Enter the email you signed up with and we'll email it to you. Mopani Copper Mines PLC ("Mopani") is a Zambian registered company owned by Carlisa Investments Corporation (a joint venture company comprising Glencore International AG (73.1%) and First Quantum Minerals Ltd (16.9%)) and ZCCM-IH (10%). Important mineral processing units of Mopani, as it is for air pollution [ 23 a! Production as it contributes to produce high purity cobalt metal concentrate grade of approximately 30 % while... 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