Russian Copper Company is Investing 328 million USD in Renovation of Karabashmed CJSC

19.07.2010 — News

CHELYABINSK REGION.

Karabashmed CJSC is planning to increase production of blister copper to 120 thousand tons a year. The ongoing renovation of the production facilities will also help to adjust the rate of smelter fume emissions to the world standards. 

The executive management of the Russian Copper Company CJSC, which operates Karabashmed, submitted its operating plans to Mikhail Yurevich, Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region. In 2013, the company intends to commission the first stage of the new production facility for smelter gas recovery; and in 2015, the production facility will reach the design capacity of off-gas treatment equal to 200 thousand cubic meters per hour. It will result, without any damage to the environment, in the increased efficiency of the Ausmelt copper smelter to the target 120 thousand tons of blister copper per year and will boost the annual output of commercial sulfuric acid to 800 thousand tons. 

The Press-Service of the Russian Copper Company has informed "RusBusinessNews" that, within the renovation aimed to increase the production capacity, in 2012 it will embark on replacement of the existing converters with 150-ton Kumera converters. In 2013, the company will commence the construction of anodic treatment facilities equipped with Kumera furnaces and the Outokumpu anode casting technology.  As a result, Karabashmed CJSC will receive one more treatment facility that will produce anode copper, rather than blister copper. 

The total amount of the planned investment exceeds 328 million US dollars. The number of employees at Karabashmed CJSC will double, totaling 3,000 people.  

Governor Mikhail Yurevich expressed hope that Karabashmed’s growth will result in more jobs and higher wages. Besides, in the next few years the smelter company will improve living conditions and amenities in the town of Karabash. "Today, the emission rates look much better than in the Soviet years. It id the officially confirmed opinion, though the situation is still not perfect. However, nobody can argue that Karabash is the most polluted town in the world ", M. Yurevich pointed out. 

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The Russian Copper Company was established in 2004 and is Russia’s third company in production of refined copper. The company comprises mining and processing factories and smelters located in five regions of the Russian Federation and in Kazakhstan. The production facilities of the Russian Copper Company produce 200 thousand copper cathodes and 190 thousand copper rod a year.