Expansion And Modernization Of Onsan Smelter

LS-Nikko Copper Inc, has been operating its Onsan copper smelter since 1979. The smelter began its operation with a designed capacity of 80,000 tpa of copper from concentrates and its smelting capacity was increased to 140,000 tpa of copper by modifying the existing line in 1988. The Mitsubishi Continuous Smelting and Converting Process has been operating since 1998 at the initial capacity of 160,000 tpa of copper. In 2002, the smelting capacity of the Onsan smelter has been increased to 426,000 tpa of copper from concentrate. Now the Onsan smelter has plans to increase its smelting capacity to 500,000 tpa of copper from concentrates by 2010. During the expansion work, the modernization of facilities will be accompanied by an increase in smelting capacity, via the Outokumpu process. This paper reviews the brief history of smelting capacity increase in Onsan smelter and its Outokumpu process modernization plans.