Somika:Copper & Cobalt Process Plants in Lubumbashi (D R Congo)

The company has commissioned one of the largest private Mineral Processing plants of D.R. Congo for up gradation of Cobalt ore at Lubumbashi.

Mechanization and Quality up-gradation are Company�s forefront objectives. Procurement of Conveying Equipments and the material handling at plant has been mechanized in a phased manner. Similarly, innovation in Research and Development are on to minimize the impurities inherent in available Copper and Cobalt minerals by performing chemical treatments during the process.

To ensure processing of any type of ore and make the Production facility more adaptable to natural factors, the Company has added Electro winning facility. This has increased its capacity to make Copper Cathodes to 200 MT per month.

In the year 2006, the Capacity Expansion in manufacture of Copper Ingots / Blisters was increased by 33.33%.

The Production facility consists of :

25KL MSRL Reactors - 13 nos

50 KL MSRL Reactors - 16 nos

Ball Mill with total Capacity 120 MTPD - 2 nos

6 KL MSRL filtration Vessels - 3 nos

48" x 100 plates PP Filters Press - 38 nos

Jacketed Furnace for Copper smelting - 2 nos

2000 litres PPFRP Electro Wining Cells - 110 nos

3000 AMP / 100 Volts Rectifier - 3 nos

Peripheral Equipments, Pipings, Electricals, storage tanks etc

In addition, following Utilities are in existence

Power Connection from SNEL

Standby - DG Sets 3 Nos 400 KVA each.

Air Compressors 60 CMF X 8 Nos

Forklifts - 15 Nos

Bore well - 3 Nos

Light / Heavy Vehicles – 30 nos

Nominal capacity of the plant is as follows :

Cobalt Hydroxide -180 MT per month

Copper Cathode - 400 MT per month

Copper Powder – Grade A - 50 MT per month

Copper Powder – Grade B - 50 MT per month

Copper Granules - 200 MT per month

Copper Blisters - 100 MT per month

Quality Control Facility

Apart from all routine equipments, Somika maintains three sets of Perkin Elmer Make Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers, 3 sets of XRF Niton Equipments and 4 sets of Geiger Counter to monitor radiation in different material received for processing. The facility is operational round the clock and is managed by qualified and experienced professionals.

Branches

The Company has branches in Kolwezi and Likasi for collection, analysis, crushing and packing of Minerals. These areas have high availability of rich minerals.

At Likasi, the company owns a land and has a constructed a Depot of its own for collection of ores from nearby areas.

Recently, Mining activity has started at Kabolela on a large scale with intensive Mechanization and this shall be the thrust area of Mining Operations for coming years.

Major Assets

Copper plant

Water jacket furnace – 3 nos

Bucket elevator

Cooling System

Conveyer System