Sulphuric Acid -
NEWS
Updated October 14, 2024
2024
Fire at Freeport Indonesia’s Gresik smelter, no casualties, company says
Green light pending for sulphuric acid facility at Walvis Bay
Freeport Indonesia to launch first production at Gresik copper smelter
this week
Andritz starts up large eucalyptus pulp mill for Suzano in Brazil
DMCC Speciality Chemicals commissions sulphuric acid plant of Andhra
Sugars
Veolia announces the sale of its sulfuric acid regeneration business in
North America for $620 million
OCP selects Worley Chemetics’ proprietary sulfuric acid technology
Western Australia Nickel to temporarily suspend operations
ulphuric acid unit at Rashakai to become operational soon
Kazakhstan Signs $1.5 Billion Agreement for Copper Smelter Project
Copper Smelter To Be Built In Eastern Kazakhstan
The Largest in the World, The Freeport Copper Smelter is Ready to
Operate in June 2024
Jacobs Awarded Contract for Sulfuric Acid Regeneration Plant
Kazatomprom Faces Delay In Production At Sulphuric Acid Plant
osaic sells Saudi JV stake to Ma’aden in $1.5 billion deal
Coromandel commences activity to set up its 1000 crore plus PA & SA
plants at Kakinada
Metso and Almalyk MMC sign frame agreement for
major copper smelter delivery in Uzbekistan
Chinese group buys Tsumeb smelter for N$931m
from Dundee
Alleima launches new super-duplex tube for
acids
France offers loan to New Caledonia nickel firm
Prony to avert collapse
Kazakh-Italian Roundtable Concludes with $1.5
Billion in Signed Deals
First Quantum to halt Ravensthorpe nickel mine
The World-Class Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex
Partners With Elessent Clean Technologies for MECS® Sulfuric
Acid Plant
CRU acquires leading fertilizer and chemical
industry publications from BCInsight
New burners to fuel India’s sulphur demand
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Fire at Freeport Indonesia’s Gresik smelter, no casualties,
company says
October 14, 2024 - A fire has broken out on Monday in Freeport
Indonesia’s Manyar smelter in Gresik, East Java province, a company
spokesperson said, adding that fire fighters are currently trying to put
the blaze out. The $3.7 billion copper smelter was completed in
June and was expected to produce first batch of output in September,
however due to water and steam leakage during an initial test period,
production will be delayed until November, Reuters reported last month.
“A fire broke out at the PTFI smelter sulfuric acid factory on Monday
October 14 at 1745 (GMT+7),” Freeport Indonesia spokesperson Katri
Krisnati said, adding that no casualties were reported. The
smelter has annual input capacity of 1.7 million metric tons of copper
concentrate, which could produce around 900,000 tons of copper cathode,
50 tons of gold and 210 tons of silver a year.
Green light pending for sulphuric acid facility at Walvis Bay
October 3, 2024 - The Cooperative Bulk Handling Terminal
(Pty) Ltd. (CBHT) has appointed A. Speiser Environmental Consultants
(ASEC) to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the
construction and operation of the sulphuric acid storage and handling
facilities at the port of Walvis Bay and the transport of sulphuric acid
to the Etango Mine, documents showed this week. CBHT is a
subsidiary of Bannerman Investments Namibia (Pty) Ltd. and part of the
Bannerman Energy Ltd. Group of Companies. CBHT) was awarded an
area within the port of Walvis Bay for its sulphuric acid storage and
handling facility. The company manages the logistical import and
export of materials, including sulphuric acid, an essential reagent in
the mining industry’s uranium (U3O8) extraction. Sulphuric acid is
required at Bannerman’s Etango Mine. Documents showed that an
Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) needs to be granted by the
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism for the construction and
operation of the sulphuric acid facilities at Walvis Bay Port and the
basis of an approved application and associated Environmental Impact
Assessment process. The Ministry of Mines and Energy awarded
Mining Licence 250 to the Etango Uranium Project on 14 December 2023.
CBHT said the sulphuric acid will either be sourced from a local
Namibian supply or from abroad, either transported by rail within
Namibia or shipped by vessels to the port, and decanted into the storage
tanks in the harbour. It will then be delivered to the mine by
road trucks. Documents showed that the facilities to be provided
in the harbour include a storage capacity of 40 000 tonnes of 98%
sulphuric acid in four tanks, related infrastructure for the transfer of
acid into the storage tanks from shipping vessels or rail acid tankers,
related infrastructure to transfer acid from the storage tanks to acid
road tankers to transport the acid to the Etango Mine and related
infrastructure for safe operation of all facilities. The company
said Bannerman’s metallurgical process will use sulphuric acid leaching
to extract the uranium from the ore. Early works on the
construction of the Etango Mine began in January, with the major
construction commencing in September. It is anticipated that the mine
will go into production in 2027. The construction of the sulphuric
acid storage and handling facilities in the port depends on an approved
EIA (and ECC). The construction period is estimated to take 18 months
and needs to be operational prior to the commissioning of the Etango
Mine.
Freeport Indonesia to launch first production at Gresik copper
smelter this week
August 26, 2024 - PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) has announced plans to
officially begin production at its Gresik copper smelter facility this
week. Tony Wenas, the President Director of PTFI, said that
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will inaugurate the smelter’s first
production. “The smelter in Gresik is operational and ready for
production. We hope the President can inaugurate it next week,” Tony
said on Thursday, August 22, 2024. However, Tony noted that the
inauguration date is still tentative and depends on the president’s
availability. Tony reported that the investment in building the
Manyar copper smelter reached US$3.7 billion (Rp58 trillion).
“This is one of the significant investments and adds to the portfolio
for the Minister of Investment, showing the investment made by PTFI
here,” Tony Wenas said on June 27, 2024. The Manyar smelter is
located within the Java Integrated Industrial Estate (JIIPE) Special
Economic Zone in Gresik, East Java. Tony described constructing this
smelter as a major challenge. He noted that the Manyar smelter is
the world’s largest single-line copper smelter, with a capacity to
process up to 1.7 million tons of copper concentrate. This capacity will
produce 650,000 tons of copper cathode. Additionally, the Manyar
smelter can produce by-products such as sulfuric acid, slag, gypsum, and
lead.
Andritz starts up large eucalyptus pulp mill for Suzano in
Brazil
August 12, 2024 - International technology group Andritz has
successfully started up a new pulp mill for the Brazilian pulp
producer Suzano in the municipality of Ribas do Rio Pardo, Mato Grosso
do Sul state. When fully operational, it will be the world’s
largest single- line eucalyptus pulp mill with an annual production
capacity of 2.55 million tons. It will also be one of the few pulp
mills in the world to run without fossil fuels, based on a raw material
of 100% planted trees. It will be energy self-sufficient, producing
surplus green power for its local suppliers and the national grid.
Andritz supplied a highly resource-efficient pulp mill with leading
technologies for fiber production and chemical recovery on an EPCC basis
(Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Civil Works). The scope
of supply included a complete wood processing plant with five chipping
lines, the world’s largest single-line fiberline (capacity over 8,000
adt/d) with unique washing and bleaching technology based on DD-Washers,
an innovative pulp drying system with two energy-efficient pulp drying
lines, an energy-efficient black liquor evaporation plant, a HERB
recovery boiler to maximize steam production for power generation, a
biomass power boiler based on the high-performance Andritz EcoFluid
Bubbling Fluidized Bed (BFB) technology, and a complete white liquor
plant with recausticizing plant and two lime kilns. To enhance the
mill’s environmental performance, Andritz is also supplying gasification
plants to enable fossil-free operation of the lime kilns and a SulfoLoop
sulfuric acid plant to produce commercial grade sulfuric acid from the
mill’s concentrated odorous gases and elemental sulfur. This will
recycle sulfur from the waste streams and make the mill completely
self-sufficient in sulfuric acid.
DMCC Speciality Chemicals commissions sulphuric acid plant
of Andhra Sugars
August 8, 2024 - DMCC Speciality Chemicals Limited has
commissioned a 500 TPD sulphuric acid plant of The Andhra Sugar Ltd. at
Saggonda, Andhra Pradesh. The plant was successfully commissioned
in March 2024 and GTR was conducted in May 2024 by DMCC Speciality
Chemicals Ltd. The project team of DMCC Speciality Chemicals
Limited has completed 55+ sulphuric acid design, engin eering and/or
turnkey projects, in addition to Single Superphosphate, Aluminum
Sulphate, Sulphamic Acid, and other projects. DMCC Speciality
Chemicals Limited is one of the few companies globally that has
operating as well as design experience in this area.
Veolia announces the sale of its sulfuric acid
regeneration business in North America for $620 million
July 31, 2024 - Veolia announces that its subsidiary Veolia North
America has signed an agreement for the divestment of Veolia North
America Regeneration Services, which includes its sulfuric acid and
hydrofluoric acid regeneration activities for refineries, to private
equity firm American Industrial Partners for an enterprise value of USD
620 million. These activities represented revenues of around USD 350
million in 2023. The financial closure of the transaction is expected in
the coming days. “This disposal is in line with our policy of
continuously reshaping our portfolio of assets in line with the
strategic priorities of our GreenUp plan whilst maintaining a strict
balance sheet discipline. The sulfuric acid regeneration business in the
United States is not one of our key priorities and does not offer
synergies with our core activities. Their disposal will enable us to
create value and concentrate our investments on the ‘boosters’ of the
GreenUp strategic plan,” said Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia's Chief
Executive Officer.
OCP selects Worley Chemetics’ proprietary sulfuric acid
technology
July 17, 2024 - OCP S.A. has provided a notice of
award to Worley Chemetics for its three greenfield sulfuric acid plants
located at OCP’s Mzinda Phosphate Hub (MPH) in Morocco. The notice of
award is subject to the signing of the contract. Under the
contract, Worley Chemetics will supply proprietary sulfuric acid
technology and process and proprietary equipment and will also provide
detailed engineering, procurement, and advisory site services. Worley
Chemetics’ services will be delivered through its offices in Vancouver
and specialised fabrication facility near Toronto, Canada. Worley
categorises this contract as sustainable work in accordance with
Worley’s definition of sustainability-related work. Compared to
alternative technologies, Worley Chemetics’ sulfuric acid technology
produces increased electrical power which is CO2 emission-free and
results in lower stack emissions. Air cooling will be used to conserve
and reduce the plant water usage. Worley Chemetics’ proprietary
CES-ALPHA™ System will be used to recover low-grade heat into steam for
maximum heat recovery. The OCP MPH project is a part of the OCP
Green Investment programme. With this programme aligned with Morocco’s
energy transition strategy, OCP aims to sustainably increase its
fertilizer production annual capacity from 12 million t to 20 million t
by 2027 using clean energy and non-conventional water. “We are
pleased to continue to support OCP with our proprietary sulfuric acid
technology, consistent with our purpose of delivering a more sustainable
world,” said Chris Ashton, Chief Executive Officer of Worley.
Western Australia Nickel to temporarily suspend operations
July 11, 2024 - BHP announces that the Nickel West operations and West
Musgrave project (Western Australia Nickel) will be temporarily
suspended from October 2024. BHP intends to review the decision to
temporarily suspend Western Australia Nickel by February 2027.The
decision to temporarily suspend Western Australia Nickel follows
oversupply in the global nickel market. Forward consensus nickel prices
over the next half of the decade have fallen sharply reflecting strong
growth of alternative low-cost nickel supply.During the temporary
suspension, BHP will continue to support its workforce and local
communities. BHP will invest approximately US$300 million (AU$450
million) per annum following completion of a transition period to
support a potential re-start of Western Australia Nickel.The transition
period will commence from July 2024. Operations will be suspended in
October 2024 and handover activities for temporary suspension will be
completed by December 2024.During the temporary suspension, BHP will:
-
- suspend mining and processing operations at the Kwinana nickel
refinery, Kalgoorlie nickel smelter and Mt Keith and Leinster
operations and the development of the West Musgrave project;
-
- implement a care and maintenance program of work to ensure the
ongoing safety and integrity of its mines and related
infrastructure;
-
- continue to invest in exploration to extend the resource life of
Western Australia Nickel and preserve optionality; and
-
- offer Western Australia Nickel frontline employees another role
within BHP or the choice of a redundancy and establish a AU$20
million Community Fund to support local communities during the
temporary suspension.
Since FY2020 BHP has invested approximately US$3 billion (AU$4.4
billion) to sustain Western Australia Nickel as an ongoing business and
to reorient its production to the battery and electric vehicle market.
This includes establishing Australia’s first nickel sulphate plant to
enhance downstream infrastructure, building two new mines and investing
in the development of two solar farms and battery storage. Western
Australia Nickel has recorded negative cash flow every year during this
period.Despite the significant capital investments, lower global nickel
prices have contributed to Western Australia Nickel expecting to report
an underlying EBITDA loss of approximately US$300 million in the
financial year to 30 June 2024.1In
February 2024, BHP announced plans to review Western Australia Nickel
and a non-cash impairment charge of approximately US$3.5 billion (AU$5.1
billion) pre-tax against the carrying value of Western Australia Nickel.
As a result of the decision to temporarily suspend operations, BHP
expects to recognise a further non-cash impairment charge of US$0.3
billion (AU$0.45 billion) pre-tax as an exceptional item in the Group’s
FY2024 Financial Statements.Any redundancy payments and other
contractual costs triggered by the decision to place Western Australia
Nickel into temporary suspension would be recognised in the Group’s
HY2025 Financial Statements.BHP’s President Australia, Geraldine
Slattery said:“We understand this is a challenging period for the
Western Australia Nickel team and surrounding communities. Every
frontline employee will be offered another role within BHP, and best
endeavours will also be made to identify redeployment opportunities for
other employees engaged in the day-to-day operations of Western
Australia Nickel.We will also work closely with local communities,
Traditional Owners and suppliers to support a responsible transition
process, which will include the establishment of a AU$20 million
Community Fund.Since BHP announced a review of Western Australia Nickel
in February, we have explored options to stem losses in the short-term
and identify a viable path forward for the business.Like others in the
Australian nickel sector, we have not been able to overcome the
substantial economic challenges driven by a global oversupply of
nickel.We have made the difficult but necessary decision to temporarily
suspend the Nickel West operation and West Musgrave project.We will
continue to invest approximately AU$450 million (US$300 million) per
annum in the Western Australia Nickel facilities to enable a potential
re-start. Western Australia remains an important investment destination
for BHP globally, with investment in the State expected to be greater
than AU$12 billion over the next five years and we will continue to work
with all of our Western Australian partners to advance the economic
prosperity of the State.”
Sulphuric acid unit at Rashakai to become operational soon
July 2, 2024 - M/S Al-Chemist Private Limited, a sulphuric Acid
Manufacturing unit at Rashakai Special Economic Zone is likely to become
operational and start production soon. The unit has been established
with the investment of Rs.425 million. According to official
sources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management
Company (KP-EZDMC), fourteen trucks consisting of 22 wheelers and rest,
from Uzbekistan, en route to Afghanistan, have arrived at the project
site and unloaded at the unit. This pioneering enterprise is
nearing completion and is expected to commence commercial production
soon. Rashakai SEZ is poised to revitalize industrial activities in the
province and the country, further strengthening the bond between
Pakistan and China. The company says that this operational
excellence would not have been possible without the support from the
office of KP SACM Abdul Karim Khan Tordher, the provincial and federal
governments – the later being represented by Board of Investment.
Kazakhstan Signs $1.5 Billion Agreement for Copper Smelter
Project
June 15, 2024
- The Republic of Kazakhstan Government has entered into an agreement with
China Nonferrous Metal Mining to construct a copper smelter at a cost of
$1.5 billion.To be built near Aktogay village in the Abay region, this
smelter is expected to have an annual copper production capacity of 300,000
tons.The agreement was signed between KAZ Minerals Smelting and NFC, with
the latter providing design services and procurement of process equipment.
NFC Kazakhstan will serve as the construction and commissioning
contractor.The copper concentrate for the smelter will be sourced from
Vostoktsvetmet’s Bozshakol and Aktogay mining and processing operations.Once
completed, the new smelter will meet domestic market demands for copper
cathode and other copper-containing materials.In addition to copper, the
plant is designed to produce refined gold, silver, and sulphuric acid.The
signing ceremony was attended by Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas
Bektenov.Bektenov stated: “The Head of State has set the task of sustainable
economic growth. The construction of the new copper smelter is a major
industrial project that will increase the processing of copper raw materials
mined in the country and will make a great contribution to the economy of
our country. The copper industry is one of the priority sectors of our
industry, and its dynamic development is very important for us.”
Copper Smelter To Be Built In Eastern Kazakhstan
June 3, 2024 - A copper smelting plant with a capacity of 300,000 tons
of copper per year is to be built in Kazakhstan’s eastern Abay region,
according to a government. An agreement for the plant’s
construction has bee signed by KAZ Minerals Smelting LLP, the customer,
and China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and
Construction Co., Ltd. (NFC), a design services supplier and process
equipment procurement company. NFC Kazakhstan LLP will also be involved
as a construction and commissioning work contractor. The plant
will be built near the village of Aktogay. The raw materials will be the
copper concentrate from Vostoktsvetmet LLP’s Bozshakol and Aktogay
mining and processing plants. “Following the plant’s construction,
a cluster will be created, combining one of the world’s largest copper
mines and modern copper smelting production. With a preliminary cost of
$1.5 billion, the project will create more than 1,000 new jobs. It is
planned to be put into operation by the end of 2028,” the press release
says. The high-tech enterprise for producing high-value-added
products will be the largest in the country. The applied technologies in
copper smelting production meet world environmental standards. The
enterprise will provide the internal market needs for processing
copper-containing raw materials and copper cathode.“It should
be noted that cathode copper is widely used in the electric power
industry, machine building, and other industrial sectors. In addition,
the new plant plans to produce refined gold, silver, and sulfuric acid,”
the release added.
The Largest in the World, The Freeport Copper
Smelter is Ready to Operate in June 2024
May 28, 2024 - President Director of PT
Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) Tony Wenas confirmed that PTFI’s new copper
smelter in the Java Integrated Industrial and Ports Estate (JIIPE) area,
Gresik, East Java will be ready to operate in June 2024. Tony confirmed
this after visiting the PTFI smelter project in Gresik on Saturday, May
25, 2024. Tony said that the PTFI smelter in Gresik is currently
carrying out a commissioning process, namely testing, trials, trials, to
ensure that the equipment and systems designed, installed and operated
are suitable to substantially complete the smelter project. “It is
hoped that it will be operational in June,” said Tony in his statement
quoted Monday, May 27 2024. Tony explained that the construction of the
smelter was the company’s commitment to increase the added value of
minerals and support the industrial downstream policy launched by the
government. PTFI’s second smelter project, which was built in October
2021, is designed to be able to refine copper concentrate with a copper
concentrate smelting capacity of 1.7 million tons per year, which makes
this smelter the largest designed copper refining site in the world.
This smelter is equipped with a precious metal refining unit, oxygen
unit, sulfuric acid unit and desalination unit, as well as an effluent
and waste water treatment plant unit to support maximum utilization of
raw materials, by-products and waste in order to achieve high efficiency
smelting and refining processes. Currently, 60% of PTFI’s concentrate
production is exported and the remaining 40% is refined domestically
through PT Smelting in Gresik, East Java to become copper cathode.
However, the anode mud containing gold and silver is still exported.
Later, when this second smelter operates, 100% anode sludge purification
will be carried out domestically. “Of course there are many challenges
in completing the single-line copper smelter with the largest design in
the world. However, the smelter project team, contractors and
sub-contractors have done a good job. Likewise, support from the central
and regional governments for PTFI to be able to complete this project on
time time,” said Tony.
Jacobs Awarded Contract for Sulfuric Acid Regeneration Plant
May 4, 2024 - Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. announced today it
was awarded a contract by Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemical Co., Ltd. for
the design of a sulfuric acid regeneration plant in Lianyungang,
Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. Officials did not disclose the contract value. Under the
terms of the contract, Jacobs is providing the process design package,
detailed design for critical equipment, design and supply of Jacobs'
proprietary Chemetics® equipment, as well as technical
advisory services for construction and commissioning of the plant. The
regeneration plant is expected to treat spent acid from a new
Methylmethacrylate (MMA) and Acrylonitrile (AN) production facility, and
is the first regeneration plant in mainland China to use a combination
of Jacobs' proprietary SAR (Sulfuric Acid Regeneration) and SAC
(Sulfuric Acid Concentration) technologies in an effort to reduce
overall energy requirements for the facility. Jacobs Group Vice
President Andy Kremer stated, "We are pleased that our proprietary SAC
and SAR technologies are being adopted by Jiangsu Sailboat for its new
sulfuric acid regeneration plant. We look forward to working together
with Jiangsu Sailboat to deliver a successful project."
Kazatomprom Faces Delay In Production At Sulphuric Acid Plant
May 3, 2024 - Kazatomprom has announced a delay in the commencement of
production at the TQZ LLP facility, which is intended to produce the
sulphuric acid necessary for uranium production, pushing the timeline
from 2026 to 2027. This delay is attributed to restructuring procedures
and approval delays for project design documentation. “Considering the
restructuring procedures, as well as delays in the timing of approval of
project design documentation, the Company expects the completion of the
construction and the start of production at the TQZ LLP to be postponed
from 2026 to 2027,” the company said in its Q1 2024 operations update.
Mosaic sells Saudi JV stake to Ma’aden in $1.5 billion deal
April 30, 2024
- US fertilizer company Mosaic is
selling its 25% stake in an $8 billion Saudi Arabian
phosphate production joint venture to the country’s flagship miner
Ma’aden, in a stock deal worth about $1.5 billion.
Ma’aden,
which already holds 60% of Ma’aden Wa’ad Al Shamal Phosphate Co.
(MWSPC), will issue about 111 million shares to buy Mosaic’s stake in
the venture, a partnership that also includes Saudi Basic Industries
Corp, with a 15% interest.
Mosaic had warned
in February that a significant portion of the revenue
generated from the asset was used to decrease debt, and that investing
in the venture was not one of the company’s top priorities.
The MWSPC has a phosphate mine, beneficiation facilities,
phosphoric acid and sulphuric acid facilities, power plants, and
downstream business units. It has an annual production capacity of about
3 million tonnes of phosphate fertilizers products.
Mosaic and Ma’aden have worked together for
over a decade. According to the US fertilizer producer’s
president and chief executive, Bruce Bodine, the two will continue to
work together under the evolved structure.
“This is an important evolution that we believe will create
significant benefits for the growth of our phosphate business,” Bob
Wilt, CEO of Ma’aden, added. “We look forward to working together with
the Mosaic team to strengthen our phosphate business as we continue to
build the mining sector into the third pillar of the Saudi economy.”
The deal is expected to close by the end of this year. As part of
the agreement, Mosaic is required to hold its Ma’aden shares for a
minimum of three years, with one-third of the shares becoming
transferable after the third, fourth and fifth anniversary of the
closing.
Coromandel commences activity to set up its 1000 crore plus PA &
SA plants at Kakinada
April 26, 2024 - Coromandel International has commenced the
project activity to set up its Phosphoric Acid-Sulphuric Acid complex
facility at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. In an event organised on 26
April 2024, Company’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Arun Alagappan, was
present for the ceremony and Mr. S. Sankarasubramanian, Executive
Director, Nutrient Business signed the key contracts with global
technology partners. With an estimated outlay of Rs 1000 crores, the
project is expected to be commissioned in two years’ time. The
proposed 650 tpd Phosphoric Acid facility is designed with advanced
DA-HF (dihydrate attack-hemihydrate filtration) process technology and
automated DCS system. This will enhance Company’s backward integration
capacities and provide stable supplies of phosphoric acid for its
fertilizer manufacturing by replacing more than 50% of Kakinada plant’s
imported acid requirement. The Company also plans to set up an 1800 tpd
sulphuric acid plant to meet the captive needs in phosphoric acid
manufacturing besides augmenting power from the waste heat generation.
Phosphoric acid and sulphuric acid are used as key intermediates for
manufacturing phosphatic fertilizers like DAP and NPKs. Currently,
company’s fertilizer plants at Visakhapatnam and Ennore are fully
integrated with captive sulphuric and phosphoric acid facilities and the
proposed expansion plan at Kakinada will make this unit also an
integrated complex. With a capacity of around 2 million t, Coromandel’s
Kakinada plant is the India’s second largest phosphatic fertilizer
facility and contributes close to 15% of nation’s NPK fertilizer output.
The plant facility also acts as a habitat for countless diverse species
of birds, while greatly contributing to biodiversity and conservation of
the ecosystem. Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Arun Alagappan,
Executive Chairman, Coromandel International Limited stated, “This
investment signifies a pivotal moment in Coromandel’s journey towards
strengthening its self-sufficiency goals in fertiliser manufacturing.
Over the past few years, we have been building our upstream supply chain
with investments in mining project and creating intermediate products’
capacity at Visakhapatnam for Phosphoric and Sulphuric acid. The
proposed Plant in Kakinada will be built on par with the best technology
standards globally and enable stable supplies of phosphatic fertilizers
to the farming community. This is in line with Government’s vision of
“Atma Nirbhar” Bharat in fertiliser sector besides creating employment
opportunities in the state of Andhra Pradesh.” The company is also
exploring investment support from the State and Central Governments,
which can improve the project viability and ensure supply security for
key raw materials used in fertilizer manufacturing. During the
event, Coromandel signed contracts with technology partners M/s Prayon,
Belgium for DA- HF process technology for phosphoric acid manufacturing
and with M/s MECS, USA for DCDA process technology for sulphuric acid
manufacturing. The Company also signed a contract with M/s thyssenkrupp
UHDE for detailed engineering of both phosphoric acid and sulphuric acid
projects. Speaking at the event, Mr. Thierry Marin, Vice President
– Sales, MECS EMEA & India said, “We will work in close partnership with
Coromandel to provide the world-class sulfuric acid technology and meet
guaranteed performance and emissions control for meeting stringent
environmental standards and production objectives.” Mr Rajesh
Kamath, CEO & MD, thyssenkrupp UHDE said, “We are grateful to Coromandel
International for the trust they have reposed in our capabilities once
again. The integrated project is a new benchmark for both organisations
and presents an exciting challenge for us at thyssenkrupp Uhde India.”
Metso and Almalyk MMC sign frame agreement for
major copper smelter delivery in Uzbekistan
April 2, 2024 - Metso and JSC Almalyk Mining and
Metallurgical company (Almalyk MMC) have signed a frame agreement on
significant process technology deliveries for Almalyk MMC’s new copper
smelter investment in Uzbekistan. The companies have collaborated on
the development of minerals processing and metallurgical operations
since 2011. Equipment package contracts under the framework
agreement will be booked once they have been signed and become
effective. Metso currently estimates that the majority of those
contracts will be signed this year. The frame agreement is a
continuation of Metso’s and Almalyk MMC’s contract signed at the end of
2022 for the design and basic engineering work for the copper smelter.
The planned production capacity of the new copper smelter, which will be
integrated with the company’s existing operations in Almalyk, is 300,000
tonnes per annum of copper cathodes and 1.8 million tonnes of sulphuric
acid. ”We are very pleased to be selected as the strategic partner
for Almalyk MMC’s smelter project,” says Piia Karhu, president of
Metso’s metals business area. ”Metso will provide Almalyk MMC with the
most advanced sustainable Planet Positive technology for their copper
refining processes.”
Chinese group buys Tsumeb smelter for N$931m from Dundee
March 7, 2024 - Dundee Precious Metals sold
the Tsumeb Smelter to Sinomine Resources Group’s subsidiary for US$49
million. The company announced Thursday that it had sold the
smelter, including all associated assets and liabilities, by disposing
of all the issued and outstanding shares it indirectly holds in Dundee
Precious Metals Tsumeb Holding. Sinomine Resources Group is a
Chinese company founded in 1999 and has developed into a global mining
group with a comprehensive resource industrial chain. The
company’s main business and operation cover four segments: EV-lithium
material development and utilization, rare & light mineral (caesium &
rubidium) development and application, geo-tech services & mining
property development. Sinomine’s business covers more than 40
countries worldwide, including Canada, the US, the UK, Norway, Zambia,
Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Uganda, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other regions in
Asia, Africa, Europe, America, and Oceania. Dundee Precious Metals
will transfer all assets and liabilities associated with the Tsumeb
smelter to Sinomine debt-free and cash-free, subject to normal working
capital adjustments. Dundee has also made limited representations and
warranties and provided certain indemnities to Sinomine customary with
transactions of this nature, subject to a liability cap equal to 50% of
the purchase price. The cash received by Dundee Precious Metals on the
closing of the deal will be less than a US$5 million holdback to be held
in escrow for six months to secure the company’s indemnity obligations
under the agreement. In addition, Dundee Precious Metals is
entitled to be paid all cash collected from IXM SA concerning a positive
balance in metals exposure outstanding at Tsumeb, estimated to be
approximately US$17.2 million, which will constitute an increase in the
purchase price. The transaction is subject to customary closing
conditions, including approval under the Namibia Competition Act and
approvals required from Chinese regulatory authorities for overseas
investments. It is expected to close in Q3 2024. Dundee
Precious Metals expects to use the proceeds from the transaction to
strengthen its balance sheet further and support its core mining
business in line with its disciplined capital allocation framework.
David Rae, Dundee Precious Metals President and CEO, said the sale of
the Tsumeb smelter is consistent with their strategic objective of
focusing on gold mining assets and simplifying our portfolio in the
future. “We are extremely proud of the investments that we have
made to transform Tsumeb’s operational and environmental performance
into a specialized custom smelter with a highly skilled workforce,” Rae
said. He thanked Namibia’s government, the Tsumeb community and
our employees for their support over the past 13 years. “We will
work closely with Sinomine to ensure a smooth transition to support a
successful future for the operation and its stakeholders,” Rae said.
Dundee Precios Metals acquired the smelter in 2010 to secure a
processing outlet for the complex concentrate produced by the Company’s
Chelopech mine in Bulgaria. With developments in the global
smelting market and changes in the quality of the Chelopech concentrate,
Dundee Precious Metals can place its Chelopech concentrate at several
other third-party facilities, providing secure and reliable processing
alternatives at favourable terms. Cutfield Freeman & Co. Ltd.
acted as DPM’s financial adviser in the transaction.
Alleima launches new super-duplex tube for acids
March 4, 2024 - Alleima, a global manufacturer of high value-added
products in advanced stainless steels and special alloys, has introduced
new advanced super-duplex tube tailored for acids. SAF 3006 is a
high-alloy duplex stainless steel tailored to enhance corrosion
resistance in acidic and caustic environments. The new alloy, an upgrade
to traditional super-duplex stainless steels, adds to the company’s
growing duplex portfolio. The main application is heat exchangers in the
chemical and petrochemicals industries. “We’re thrilled to welcome
this new super duplex to our expanding duplex family. It provides that
‘missing duplex tool’ for customers battling acids in heat exchangers,
giving them that extra edge. With the addition of SAF 3006 (UNS S83071),
we strengthen our presence in duplex materials tailored for acidic
corrosion, where we see strong growth potential. Applications may
include caustic evaporators, acid coolers and evaporators,” says Eduardo
Perea, Market & Product Manager EMEA at Alleima Tube Division. Alleima
pioneered the ‘duplex revolution’ of the 1960s and 1970s, introducing a
cost-efficient stainless-steel alternative to more expensive nickel
alloy grades. The company continues to innovate in this area. Duplex
grades, with a 50-50 austenitic-ferritic structure, offer more than
twice the strength of standard stainless steels and superior corrosion
resistance. The groundbreaking SAF 2507 (UNS S32750), introduced
by Alleima almost four decades ago in 1985, set the industry standard
for combatting wet corrosion in a diverse range of industrial
applications. Renowned for its exceptional performance in corrosive
conditions, SAF 2507 offers excellent resistance to stress corrosion
cracking (SCC) in chloride-bearing environments, as well as to pitting
and crevice corrosion. “SAF 3006 will complement SAF 2507 in
dealing with corrosive conditions in heat exchanger tubing exposed to
hydrochloric, sulphuric, formic or other acids. This is our super duplex
tailored to resist acids,” says Perea. “From an R&D perspective,
this new super duplex reflects a sharper focus on optimizing the
material for acid corrosion resistance. Previously, most of our duplexes
were developed with chloride resistance as the main focus, with high PRE
levels to resist pitting and crevice corrosion. Resistance to acidic
conditions was less prioritized. Now, we have fine-tuned the chemical
composition to resist acidic environments better. This involves a high
chromium content of 30 % and a molybdenum level of 3.2 % to maintain
good structural stability and balancing of the alloying elements,” says
Daniel Gullberg, Manager of Product Development CRA. “SAF
3006 is an upgrade over existing duplex grades facing
higher-than-desired corrosion rates and where extended equipment
lifetime is wanted. You get all the benefits of traditional duplex steel
in terms of strength, lighter weight and cost-efficiency, but tailored
to resist acids. It can be used in acid production plants with or
without seawater cooling,” says Oscar Öhlin, R&D Engineer at Alleima.
SAF 3006 will be produced in Alleima’s fully integrated value chain,
from R&D to end product, with tight quality control and a strong focus
on sustainable production. The tube is based on more than 80 % recycled
steel and melted and produced using a high degree of fossil-free energy
sources. Seamless tube and pipe in SAF 3006 will be supplied in standard
heat exchanger dimensions. “The introduction of SAF 3006 marks the
ongoing evolution of the duplex revolution Alleima started decades ago –
now tailored for acidic conditions in heat exchangers. We look forward
to collaborating with customers to advance their needs,” concludes Tom
Eriksson, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D at Alleima.
France offers loan to New Caledonia nickel firm
Prony to avert collapse
February 15,
2024 - France has agreed to provide a 140 million euro ($150 million)
loan to Prony Resources to avert the collapse of the New Caledonian
nickel producer as Paris pursues negotiations to salvage the Pacific
territory’s loss-making nickel industry. Prony Resources is one of
three nickel processors in the French territory of New Caledonia that
face insolvency as high costs and political tensions have hit
profitability while rising Indonesian supply has dented international
prices. The French government has approved the loan in addition to
40 million euros in annual energy subsidies for Prony proposed in a
wider package for the industry that Paris aims to sign off this month,
Sonia Backes, president of New Caledonia’s southern province, said on
Thursday. “This loan will give us time to find a buyer,” Backes
told local broadcaster La 1ere Nouvelle Caledonie, adding the funds
should allow Prony Resources to continue operating until 2026.
Prony Resources spokesperson Adelie Garaud Ballande said negotations
were still underway on the terms and conditions of the loan. “At
this stage, nothing has been signed and sealed,” she said via email.
“The amount of the emergency loan to be granted by the State will give
us time to make every effort to attract an investor.” France’s
finance ministry said the proposed loan was subject to an overall
agreement being reached on the New Caledonian industry. The
southern province where Prony’s operations are based is one of several
shareholders in the company. Commodity merchant Trafigura also has a 19%
stake. Rothschild & Co has been mandated to find a new investor
for Prony, Backes said. A spokesperson for Rothschild did not
immediately respond to a request for comment. Paris had offered
similar aid to Koniambo Nickel SAS (KNS) but its co-owner Glencore said
the support was insufficient, announcing this week it was halting output
at KNS’ processing plant for six months while it sought a buyer for its
stake. New Caledonia’s third nickel processor is SLN, in which
French miner Eramet has a majority stake. Eramet has said it will not
provide further funding to cover losses at the business.
Kazakh-Italian Roundtable Concludes with $1.5 Billion in Signed Deals
January 19, 2024 – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed
Italian business people at the Kazakh-Italian roundtable in Rome on Jan.
18, witnessing the signing of four strategic documents, reported the
Akorda press service. The roundtable gathered top management from
nearly 30 Italian companies. Kazakhstan’s Samruk Kazyna Sovereign
Wealth Fund and Balestra signed an agreement defining the terms of the
implementation of a project to build a sulfuric acid plant in the Suzak
district in the Turkistan Region. The capacity of the plant, which will
supply sulfuric acid to the companies of the Kazatomprom national
company, will be 800,000 tons per year.
https://astanatimes.com
First Quantum to halt Ravensthorpe nickel mine
January 15, 2024 - First Quantum Minerals (FQM) will reduce its
operating activities at Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation (RNO) with
suspension of mining operations at the Shoemaker Levy ore body and
bypassing the high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) circuit.
Existing ore stockpiles will continue to be processed through the
Atmospheric Leach circuit providing significant mining and processing
cost reductions. This new operating model represents a three-year
plan under which RNO will maintain production of nickel concentrate from
ore stockpiles before recommencing mining activities at Hale Bopp and
Halley’s ore bodies. The three-year plan represents the anticipated
period for weaker nickel prices. The decision results from the
significant downturn in the nickel price experienced during 2023,
combined with currently higher operating costs in Western Australia, and
a requirement to improve the financial viability of RNO at current
nickel prices. The cessation of mining and associated processing
activities at RNO will reduce the company’s directly employed workforce
at the site by approximately 30%, with contractors to be redeployed by
their employers. RNO General Manager Scott Whitehead said
reducing the mine’s operating activities for a sustained period was the
best decision for the company, workforce and local region.
“Transitioning to a new operating model will allow us to continue to
produce and export our nickel product, which is a critical mineral and
has a lower carbon footprint than other suppliers. The operational
changes will ensure RNO remains viable longer term and we will retain
most of our residential and FIFO workforce, thereby supporting the
communities of Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe and providing income for the
region and Western Australia,” Mr. Whitehead said. “It’s important
we position ourselves to respond in a timely manner to future
improvements in the nickel price by being able to reactivate our mining
activities at the preferred time.” RNO will remain a significant
local nickel concentrate exporter, expecting to produce on average
approximately 16,000 contained tonnes per annum over the next three
years. RNO produces an ESG-focused, compliant battery grade nickel which
is in the lowest quartile of CO2 emissions globally and will be
increasingly critical to industries and consumers in the United States
and European Union as part of the transition to a decarbonized economy.
The World-Class Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex Partners With
Elessent Clean Technologies for MECS® Sulfuric
Acid Plant
January 9, 2024 - The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex
(Kamoa-Kakula), a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group
and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has partnered
with Elessent Clean Technologies (Elessent) to install a new 2,500 metric
tonne per day (MTPD) smelter off-gas MECS® sulfuric acid plant. In conjunction with global EPC partner,
China Nerin Engineering Co. Ltd. (NERIN), the new acid plant will be part of
a new 500,000-tonnes-per-annum direct-to-blister flash copper smelter that
is under construction at Kamoa-Kakula, as part of its Phase 3 expansion.
Upon completion of the Phase 3 expansion, Kamoa-Kakula is projected to be
the fourth largest copper operation globally. “At
Kamoa-Kakula we aim to set a new industry standard by being the greenest
major copper mine in the world. It helps that DRC not only has an incredible
mineral endowment, but also has an abundance of clean hydroelectricity to
power its mining industry. However, we also need the right technology to
extract the copper in a sustainable way. By using the MECS® acid
plant design and its incorporated technologies, our new plant helps achieve
our path to net zero,” said David Mitchell, Kamoa-Kakula’s Senior Project
Manager for the smelter project.
The MECS® sulfuric
acid process incorporates state-of-the-art technologies, such as the MECS® pre-conversion
technology and the MECS® DynaWave® gas
cleaning technology. DynaWave® scrubbers,
the gold standard in gas cleaning applications, clean and condition the
upstream off gas of the smelting furnace at the sulfuric acid plant. The
MECS® pre-conversion
technology is a novel approach for processing off-gas streams with elevated
sulfur-dioxide concentrations while consuming significantly less power.
“Kamoa-Kakula is one of the world’s fastest-growing major copper
operations. Partnering with NERIN on the mine’s greenfield smelter complex
is very exciting. It is a great honor to work with the owners of what is
anticipated to be one of the greenest major copper operations on the
planet,” said Eli Ben-Shoshan, CEO, Elessent Clean Technologies.
For decades, copper has been essential in industries like civil and
building construction, machinery, and power transmission. Recently, however,
copper demand has seen a steady increase due to its position as a critical
metal in the energy transition, which includes electric vehicle (EV)
technology. In fact, copper is one of the most vital metals in the energy
transition and the shift to EVs. Copper is essential throughout the entire
EV value chain, including use in everything from EV manufacturing to
charging stations and supporting infrastructure. Because of the metal’s high
durability, high conductivity, and efficiency, it has become indispensable
to the industry.
The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex has been
in commercial operations since July 2021. The operation is currently
undergoing its Phase 3 expansion, which will increase copper production to
over 600,000 tons of copper per year from Q3 2024.
CRU acquires leading fertilizer and chemical industry
publications from BCInsight
January 4, 2024 - Today, CRU, the global commodities experts, announces
it has acquired a portfolio of leading fertilizer and chemical industry
publications from BCInsight. The strategic acquisition will
reunite the Fertilizer International, Nitrogen+Syngas and Sulphur
publications, with their sister conferences owned by CRU. These
will be combined as part of CRU’s new Communities business unit which
will seek to strengthen engagement and facilitate knowledge-sharing and
networking across the fertilizer and wider chemicals industries.
Nicola Coslett, CEO of CRU Communities at CRU said, “I am delighted to
bring these publications back into the CRU family and to welcome Lisa
and her team to CRU. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our
mission to provide comprehensive and valuable resources to the global
fertilizer community. We have worked as partners for many years, and I
am confident that, together, we will create an even more vibrant and
dynamic community that fosters innovation and collaboration
opportunities to our clients who are at the centre of our fertilizer and
chemicals communities.” Chris Lawson Head of Fertilizers at CRU,
said “Expanding technical expertise alongside our unrivalled team of
dedicated and highly experienced analysts will enhance CRU’s ability to
deliver even more comprehensive and insightful information to our
clients. With so many new entrants into the ammonia, phosphate and
fertilizer industries, the need for technical knowledge and insights has
never been more important.” Lisa Connock, Director and Technical
Editor at BCInsight, concluded, “After working closely with Nicola and
CRU for so many years, it was clear CRU Communities would be a great
home for our publications. CRU’s fertilizer and related
conferences have long been recognised as premier events in the sector,
attracting industry leaders, experts, and key stakeholders from around
the world. I am incredibly proud of the community we have built, and I
look forward to serving our customers with an even stronger offering as
we embark on a new phase of growth together.” The magazines will
continue to operate under their existing names, maintaining the
commitment to delivering high-quality technical content and meaningful
market insights to readers. The acquisition will allow the magazines to
leverage CRU’s extensive data and thought leadership to further enhance
reach and influence, across the whole fertilizer industry.
New burners to fuel India’s sulphur demand
January 4, 2024 - India's consumption of sulphur is expected to
rise in 2024, supported by new sulphur burners that will reduce the
country's reliance on imports of sulphuric acid. New sulphur
burning capacity on the east coast of India is expected to lift the
country's sulphur demand, with fertilizer producer Coromandel's
Visakhapatnam (Vizag) burner already operational since 25 September
2023. Fertilizer producer Iffco's sulphur burner at Paradip is also
expected to come on line in the first quarter of 2024. The two burners
will add 400,000 t/yr of sulphur demand and produce 1.2mn t/yr of
sulphuric acid when fully operational, according to Argus calculations.
Rising sulphur demand is displacing some sulphuric acid imports. India's
imports of sulphur during January-September 2023 rose by 10pc from a
year earlier to 1.15mn t, GTT data show, with the bulk coming from the
UAE. A total of 106,800t arrived from Russia, an all-time high for
India. But sulphuric acid imports during the same period fell by 3pc
with fewer arrivals from China and the Philippines. Deliveries from
China fell by 67pc to 127,400t, while imports from the Philippines
slipped by 28pc to 109,700t. Supply choices are ample for sulphur
buyers in India, as most consumers are also able to import from
non-mainstream Middle East destinations that produce relatively lower
priced crushed lump sulphur compared with their granular counterparts.
High domestic availability, on the back of elevated operating rates
across most Indian refineries for most of 2023, may also cater to some
of the new sulphur demand. Firm demand for transportation fuels
lifted crude throughput levels at refiners during April-June 2023 with
strong economic growth and a late start to monsoon rains. Crude
throughput at state-controlled refiner Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) rose
to a record high of 435,000 b/d during the period, up by 12pc from
387,000 b/d a year earlier after its refineries operated at 106pc of
capacity. Crude throughput from fellow state-controlled refiner IOC was
1.45mn b/d during April-October 2023, exceeding its initial target of
1.42mn b/d. Planned refinery capacity expansions from 2024 will
also result in more domestic production of sulphur. HPCL is planning
to expand the capacity of its Vizag refinery from 166,000 b/d to 270,000
b/d. Argus forecasts India's total sulphur demand to rise to 3.5mn
t in 2024, up by 9pc from 3.2mn t in 2023. While domestic refineries are
likely to cater to this new demand, prices of sulphur relative to
sulphuric acid and fertilizer prices will remain a key deciding factor
for demand in 2024.
www.argusmedia.com
