COPPER PROCESSING: Lumwana mill handed over to Equinox

ZAMBIA — Equinox Minerals of Toronto has accepted the handover of the Lumwana copper concentrator in the Western Province from its EPC contractor, an event that marks commercial production. The mill contract was a joint venture of Ausenco Projects and Bateman International Projects.

Equinox puts the total pre-production capital cost at US$814 million, up from the original $758 million estimate. Much of the increase was due to a fire that damaged the transformer and substation, delaying the project for four months. The Lumwana project included development of an open pit, building a 20-million-t/y concentrator, tailings and water management, surface facilities, etc.

The project may eventually be expanded to 24 million t/y with a copper cathode plant on site. Also a feasibility study has been done on the uranium mineralization within the pit outline.

Details are available at www.EquinoxMinerals.com. Development photos arranged by monthly progress are also available.