Konkola Mines announces resumption of operations at Nchanga Smelter, after $18 million spent on repairs

The Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM) has reportedly resumed operations at its Nchanga Smelter which was shut-down abruptly following a molten metal leakage from the Flash Smelting Furnace.

This happened on June 26, 2023.

The Provisional Liquidator, Celine Nair, announced on Tuesday in a statement that the cost of the rehabilitation was estimated at US$18.6 million.

Nair stated that KCM received tremendous support from the government to enable the Company to carry-out the smelter rehabilitation.

“There was no loss of life or injuries to employees during the incident, which prompted the shut-down to enable the smelter team to undertake several repairs, including works on the entire metal and gas zone refractory lining and part of the roof. Operations resumed on Saturday, August 5, 2023,” she said..

Nair also said as a result of the extended smelter shut-down, KCM would not undertake the planned annual maintenance shut-down in November 2023 as the works planned for that routine closure had been done.

“The smelter rehabilitation has been successfully carried out using local expertise,” she said.

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