The Phase I development of the Zhugongtang lead-zinc mine in Hezhang County, Guizhou Province, is entering its final construction stretch. Full-line wet commissioning is scheduled to commence on 30 September, marking the official start of the trial production phase. Formal operational acceptance and commercial production are targeted by the end of 2026, following successful completion of performance testing and all necessary rectification work.
South Korean metals producer LS MnM plans to use sulphuric acid recovered from copper-smelting operations to process nickel and cobalt for battery materials, linking its existing metals business with its expansion into the electric-vehicle supply chain. The company captures sulphur dioxide generated at its Onsan Smelter and converts it into sulphuric acid. LS MnM’s sulphuric-acid facilities have annual capacity of 1.925 million t/a, according to the company, providing a potential internal reagent source for hydrometallurgical processing.
Hongda's 100,000 t/a zinc smelter, in China's Sichuan Province, completed scheduled maintenance and equipment upgrading and officially resumed production on 21st June, the company said. The smelter had been shut down for planned maintenance since January, during which time a modernisation project for the electrolytic zinc smelting system was also carried out. Following the nearly six-month revamp, the resumption of production is expected to improve overall operational efficiency, reduce unit production costs, and increase the utilisation rate, The company said. The stable supply of sulphuric acid generated by the zinc smelter will effectively leverage the synergies of the "sulphur-phosphorus" industrial chain in the company, an help alleviate cost pressures on the company's phosphorus chemical business segment.
Metso has been awarded an order to supply key cellhouse process equipment for a zinc smelter expansion project in South Asia. The value of the order was undisclosed, as was the name of the customer, which is one of the leading zinc producers globally.
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources, said on June 3rd that it had begun a planned 60-day maintenance shutdown of its Nchanga smelter in Zambia. KCM said that the routine maintenance is aimed at improving operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and long-term production performance, and forms part of the company’s broader modernisation strategy, […]
With the delivery of ten sulphuric acid pumps and a mobile tank drainage pump for a large zinc smelter in Central Asia, Rheinhütte Pumpen highlights its expertise in handling highly concentrated sulphuric acid – from alloy development and engineering to comprehensive testing on one of the most advanced pump test stands in the world.
Metso says it has won a €180 million order for the delivery of engineering and key process equipment for a new primary copper smelter investment at an undisclosed location in Asia. The planned production capacity of the copper smelter complex is 300,000 t/a of copper cathodes and 1.1 million t/a of sulphuric acid, based on licensed Outotec® Flash Smelting, PS Converting and Lurec® technologies. It includes the design and supply of key process equipment for the main areas of the smelter complex, and the gas cleaning and sulphuric acid plant, copper electrolytic refinery, and precious metals refinery. The delivery also comprises site services and spares.
Ivanhoe Mines says that the first copper anodes were produced by Kamoa-Kakula’s 500,000 t/a direct-to-blister copper smelter on December 29, 2025, approximately five weeks after the commencement of the smelter’s heat-up and one week after the first feed of concentrate.
Metso has booked the third part of its order for JSC Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex’s copper smelter project based on the equipment and project services delivery contracts announced on August 9, 2024. The first parts of the order, worth €146 million were booked in 4Q 2024, and the second part, worth €50 million in 1Q 2025. The order value recorded in 4Q 2025 is €70 million.
Korea Zinc says it will partner with the US government to construct a critical minerals smelter in Clarksville, Tennessee, producing zinc, lead, and copper. Korea Zinc will begin site preparation next year, followed by phased commercial operations from 2029. The plant is planned to process around 1.0 million t/a of raw materials and turn out 540,000 st/a of finished products. Processing of gold, silver, and key strategic minerals such as antimony, indium, bismuth, tellurium, cadmium, palladium, gallium and germanium, are also planned in what is being touted as a "state-of-the-art" facility. Sulphuric acid and semiconductor-grade sulphuric acid will also be produced. The output will include 300,000 t/a of zinc production, 200,000 t/a of lead, 35,000 t/a of copper and 5,100 t/a of rare and strategic metals. Development will be through Korea Zinc’s US subsidiary, Crucible Metals.