Glencore reviewing Australian smelter
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner Glencore is weighing the business case for its Mt Isa copper smelter and its Townsville refinery.
A spokesperson for the company on Friday said that the assets were facing significant international competition and high fixed costs in Australia which negatively impacts their ongoing commercial viability.
“We have been transparent about the challenges and discussions are ongoing with both the Queensland and federal governments. The bricks which line the smelter are due to be replaced in 2022 and a decision will need to be made soon for new bricks to be ordered in time.
“We expect to communicate a final decision on the metallurgical assets in the next four weeks,” the company said.
Glencore’s Queensland copper operations consist of the Mt Isa mine complex, the Ernest Henry operation and the refinery in Townsville.
The Mt Isa operations hosts two underground mines, and ore is processed and smelted on site before being transported via rail to the copper refinery. Copper ore from the Ernest Henry operation is processed on site and trucked to Mt Isa for smelting.
The Townsville refinery is capable of producing some 300 000 t/y of copper cathode.
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