The Udokan Copper Project is built for decades of copper production. it's a complex processing facility (crushing, grinding [2x SAG & 4 ball mills], flotation, filtration, leaching & electrowinning) to produce a combination of copper concentrate and pure copper cathodes for sale.
The presence of a significant orebody like Udokan can be a strong motivator for project development.
Udokan Copper Mine Project Development Phases
The Udokan Copper Mine project can be summarized in these following phases:
Company Background
- Established in 2008 by USM Holding to develop the Udokan copper deposit.
- Owns a patented flotation and hydrometallurgical process for minimized environmental impact.
- Committed to social development in the Zabaykalsky Krai region.
Mine Development
- Began development in August 2020 in the "Zapadny" open-pit area.
- Current production capacity around 6.5 million tonnes of ore.
- Russia's largest copper deposit with 27 million tonnes of copper at 1.05% Cu & also containing 33,000 tonnes of silver,
- 70 year mine life
Processing Plant Construction
- Construction began in 2019 with an investment of over US$2.8 billion (Stage 1).
- Faced challenges due to high altitude (1800 metres above sea-level), harsh climate, and permafrost conditions.
- Includes a concentrator plant (Conc Plant) and a hydrometallurgical plant (Hydro Plant).
Concentrator Plant (Stage I)
- Launched in September 2023 during the Eastern Economic Forum.
- Processes 15 million tonnes of ore per year (MTPA) to produce 150,000 tonnes of copper concentrate.
- First stage involves operating one comminution line and all flotation facilities.
Hydrometallurgical Plant Commissioning
- Began in December 2023 with filter presses and related equipment.
- Expected to be fully operational by Q2 2024.
Future Expansion (Stage II)
- Planned for completion by 2028.
- Will increase processing capacity to 24-28 MTPA of ore.
- Expected to produce 450,000 tonnes of copper concentrate and cathode per year.
Production Targets
- Reach design capacity of 12 million tonnes of ore by end of 2024.
- Produce 135,000 tonnes of copper concentrate and cathode per year by end of 2024.
- Increase annual capacity to 15 million tonnes of ore and 150,000 tonnes of copper by 2026.
Market Focus
- Target domestic and international markets, with a priority on China for exports.
https://udokancopper.ru/en/about/
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