Consolidated Copper Corp. (CCC) has successfully restarted the Tschudi copper plant in Namibia, producing LME Grade A copper cathode for the first time in four years.
The restart has created over 60 new jobs for Namibians, with 75% of the refurbishment capital contracted to local Namibian suppliers.
This comes as the Namibia-focused company secured the N$357 million (US$20 million) funding for the plant’s restart through a secured debt facility from Triangle Resource Partners (TRP), a syndicate of some of CCC’s founding shareholders.
Constructed in 2015, the Tschudi plant is Namibia’s only LME-grade refined copper processing facility. It previously produced over 80 kilotonnes (kt) of LME Grade A copper cathode annually until it was placed on care and maintenance in 2020.
Consistent with the Namibian government’s focus on domestic beneficiation of locally produced minerals, CCC’s restart of the Tschudi plant represents the first phase of a broader strategy to sustainably recommission three brownfield copper mines in the country.
Consolidated Copper Corp says it is committed to becoming a responsible producer of metals and minerals critical for clean energy, with clear goals to minimise environmental impact and ensure the participation of local communities and economies.
“Tschudi has the potential to rival the great copper mines of the Central African Copper Belt,” said John Sisay, CEO of Consolidated Copper Corp.
“The true measure of our success will lie in the benefits experienced by the local community and our contribution to the clean energy value chain.”
The restart comes as Namibia continues to advance its efforts in sustainable mineral beneficiation after the government legislated to prevent the export of unprocessed ore last year. This policy aims to capture more value from mining activities within the country before exporting to enhance economic prospects for Namibians.
