Published: February 19, 2018 |

[Click image to enlarge]

Boliden has decided to expand the Kevitsa copper-nickel mine and Harjavalta copper-nickel smelter. In total, EUR 125 million will be invested until 2020. Mr. Lennart Evrell, President & CEO said that “A few years ago we decided to invest in the copper production at Harjavalta and revise our nickel strategy. The Kevitsa copper-nickel mine was acquired in 2016 and is now Harjavalta’s most important concentrate supplier. Today’s investment decision should be viewed as part of the development of Boliden’s overall operations in Finland.”

EXPANSION KEVITSA

Boliden invests EUR 80 million in increasing production at Kevitsa from 7.5 to 9.5 million tonnes per year from 2021. The investment includes a new autogenous mill and peripheral equipment, and a new mill building. The investments will be commenced in 2018 and full production will be achieved in the first quarter of 2021.

Mr. Mikael Staffas, President Boliden Mines said that “Now that the integration of Kevitsa has been completed, it’s time to take the next step. We have substantial Mineral Resources and high grades, but the concentrator’s grinding capacity is limiting production. Today’s decision is an important step towards maximizing the value of Kevitsa.”

EXPANSION HARJAVALTA

Boliden invests EUR 45 million in Harjavalta and Pori in order to increase copper cathode production from 135,000 tonnes to 170,000 tonnes per year. The investments addresses bottlenecks at the Harjavalta smelter as well as an expansion of the Pori copper refinery. Boliden expects to achieve the new capacity in Q1 2020. The copper cathode refining capacity is below that of anode production, and approximately 15,000 tonnes of anode copper is currently being sold externally. Today’s investment will enable Harjavalta to refine all of its anode copper in-house.

Mr. Kerstin Konradsson, President Boliden Smelters said that “Today’s decision increases copper production and is part of a combined investment programme between 2017 and 2019 of over EUR 200 m. The investments in a new sulphuric acid plant and modernization of furnaces is ongoing.”

Source:  Steel Guru

To stop by Boliden’s website, CLICK HERE

Be in-the-know when you’re on-the-go!