Chinalco Plans to Put Molybdenum Project on Stream in Q4 2014

SHANGHAI, Jun. 18 (SMM) – Chinalco Mining Corporation International has fully completed construction of its molybdenum hydrometallurgy plant as expected in April 2014, and plans to put the plant online in Q4 this year, it said in a statement filed to Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The company had expected in its Annual Report that the molybdenum plant would enter commissioning stage in April this year. However, the low molybdenum grade of 0.009% for the ore mined in the ramp-up stage of the Toromocho Project means the company separation of copper and molybdenum could not be conducted as expected in the first half of the year.

In response, Chinalco changed its plan for initiating separation of copper and molybdenum to July 2014, and adjusted commissioning schedule for the project to the fourth quarter when stock of molybdenum concentrates is accumulated.