Consolidated Copper Corporation (CCC) says it has generated approximately N$1.35 billion (US$80 million) from residual copper sales since the recommissioning of its Tschudi Mine in August 2024.
CCC Chief Executive Officer John Sisay told Namibia Mining & Energy that the funds have been strategically reinvested into extensive drilling programmes and technical studies.
“To brief you on the work done in that regard: we have completed roughly US$80 million worth of copper sales using that residual supply. Those funds were reinvested into the company for necessary studies, extensive drilling and a pre-feasibility study (PFS),” he said.
Sisay said the company is targeting the commencement of full-scale mining operations at Tschudi by the first quarter of 2027.
Intensive drilling has expanded the project’s resource base by approximately 30 million tonnes, bringing the total to around 80 million tonnes. This has extended the mine’s projected life from about three years to between 12 and 15 years.
While the mine is currently producing from residual copper heaps, CCC is conducting a PFS to optimise extraction. The company is evaluating an increase in recovery rates from the current 65% to as much as 93% through the introduction of a flotation plant.
“We now have a much clearer understanding of the different copper types. Through the drilling programme, we know we can produce oxides, leading to cathode production, for at least another six to seven years, and we are looking at a 12 to 15-year mine life overall for Tschudi,” Sisay told Namibia Mining & Energy.
The company’s longer-term objective is to reach the plant’s nameplate production capacity of 17,000 tonnes per year. To support this transition, CCC is recruiting mining engineers and a mines manager as it moves from processing to active extraction.
Sisay said approximately 75% of Phase 1 capital expenditure was spent locally, a move aimed at reducing foreign exchange exposure and strengthening the company’s operating position.
“We have about 90 people on site. We are currently looking for a mines manager. We have focused on processing over the past two years, but as we move into the next phase of active mining, we are recruiting mining engineers. We also have a new Chief Operating Officer and a strong team in place,” he said.
Consolidated Copper Corporation successfully restarted the Tschudi copper plant in Namibia in 2024, producing LME Grade A copper cathode.
Constructed in 2015, the Tschudi plant is Namibia’s only LME-grade refined copper processing facility. It previously produced more than 80 kilotonnes of LME Grade A copper cathode annually before being placed on care and maintenance in 2020
