2016 Spring Summer Issue

Tenke Fungurume looks to the future with second acid plant

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), deep in the heart of Africa, is home to some of the world’s largest known copper deposits. Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM), located in the Lualaba Province, is one of the country’s largest copper producers, as well as the world’s premier producer of cobalt. The facility, which includes surface mining, leaching and SX/EW operations, currently produces 205,000 metric tons of copper and 16,000 metric tons of cobalt each year. As capacities increase, so do the demands for sulfuric acid, an important component in processing the ore. After the successful installation of the site’s first sulfuric acid plant in 2009, increasing capacities led to higher demands for acid. Always looking ahead, the company quickly realized the benefits of adding a second, larger acid plant, which came online in the first quarter of 2016. This addition brings the company’s investment in the area to over $3 billion so far, representing one of the largest private investments in the country’s history.

Features & Guest Columns

Global acid market: changing fundamentals
Solutions for common problems in sulfur spraying
Dry and wet precipitators–the yin/yang of off-gas acid production
Fiber bed mist eliminator refresher: theoretical fundamentals vs. real world
Aggressive corrosion and demanding conditions need aggressive solutions
Modernization of a sulfuric acid plant in three easy steps
Acid mist elimination in sulfuric acid plants
Weir Minerals Lewis Pumps manufactures API 610 11th edition qualified pumps as standard
Creating reliable, durable seals in glass-lined steel equipment
“Quick Fit” pre-assembled acid-proof lined equipment
Moisture-free surface cleaning technology: NitroLance™
Info sharing at CRU’s conference, Sulphur 2015