Yunnan Copper's Isasmelt - Successful Smelter Modernization In China

The ISASMELT process is a submerged lance smelting technology operating in smelters in Australia, the USA, Belgium, India, Germany, Malaysia and China. Further plants are under construction in Peru and Zambia. Initially developed at Mount Isa Mines, Australia, the technology is marketed by Xstrata Technology to companies around the world. Yunnan Copper Co. Ltd. (YCC) commissioned the first copper ISASMELT furnace in China in 2002. The plant quickly ramped up to design capacity and the first campaign lasted more than 2 years. Now into the second campaign, the furnace is exceeding the original design capacity and YCC has won numerous awards for its contribution to reducing emissions and energy consumption. YCC and Xstrata put great effort into managing the design, construction and commissioning of the smelter. Xstrata?s technology was combined with YCC?s novel management approach. This effort has been repaid in terms of the outstanding performance of the plant since startup. This paper updates the reader on the first few years? operation of the YCC ISASMELT plant and discusses the way in which the technology was transferred, leading to fast rampup and, as a result, enhanced profitability for the operators.