Smelting

The Tsumeb smelter is a major custom smelter with brownfields expansion potential. It produces blister copper (98.6% copper) and has the ability to treat complex copper concentrates.

The smelter's current capacity is around 120,000 tonnes a year. As one of only four copper smelters currently operating in Africa, and with the resurgence of mining in key regions such as Zambia, DRC and Botswana, there is great opportunity to capitalise on the smelter's expansion potential to increase the custom treating business. Concentrate is currently smelted at Tsumeb from Dundee Chelopech and from First Quantum's Guelb Mogrein mine and Metorex's Chibuluma mine.

The oxygen plant which is planned to be completed in early 2010 will double its capacity of its smelter.