Yunnan Copper to launch new mine in October

Yunnan Copper, China#8217;s third-largest copper smelter, plans to put a new mine into commercial production in October that can produce 20,000 tonnes coper in ore per year, according to the company.

The copper mine in which the company invested RMB500 million (US$66million), is located in Deqen Prefecture in the southwestern province of Yunnan.

Chinese copper smelters are eager to develop and expand their own copper deposits to rescue raw materials, as rising coats of imported copper concentrate are depressing the treatment and processing fees that smelter receive from miners.

Yunnan Copper controls more of its own copper ore reserves than its major rival Jiangxi Copper. Yunnan Copper#8217;s deposits are mainly in Yunan Province, which is rich in non-ferrous metal deposits.

According to Yunnan Copper#8217;s website, it has completed a project to expand the annual production at another copper mine to 30,000 tonnes of copper in ore from its precious rate of 20,000 tonnes per annum.

In the first half of this year, Yunnan Copper produces 245,000 tonnes of metals, including 201,745 tonnes of refined copper and 279.68 tonnes of silver. It is aiming to expand its mining output to 300,000 tonnes of copper in ore by 2010.