Boliden revises annual copper tonnages on production problems

Production problems at Boliden’s Aitik copper mine will result in lower volumes and recoveries in the second quarter.

Production problems at Boliden’s Aitik copper mine will result in lower volumes and recoveries in the second quarter.

Second-quarter production at the Swedish miner’s Aitik project will be lower than expected as a result of an ore mix that is causing low recoveries and process disturbances in the concentrator, the company said on Tuesday June 9.

Copper recovery is expected to remain at the same level as in the first quarter, while milled volumes are expected to be negatively affected by around one million tonnes during the second quarter.

The production plan for milled tonnage for the whole year of 2015 has been adjusted down to 39 million tonnes, the company said.

James Heywood
jheywood@metalbulletin.com
Twitter: @jamesheywood_MB

What to read next
Renewed US-China trade tensions with Donald Trump’s second presidential term could bolster Southeast Asia’s aluminium scrap industry in 2025, particularly amid still-growing Chinese demand, sources told Fastmarkets by Tuesday, January 14.
European steel and aluminium producers have urged the European Commission to take immediate and effective action to tackle "scrap leakage" so that the European Union can meet its sustainable development aims and secure industrial competitiveness.
There has been a freefall in copper concentrates treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) this year amid tighter supply in the market. In 2025, supply tightness is projected to keep copper concentrates TC/RCs low on average for the whole year, sources told Fastmarkets.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ Shanghai copper premiums on Monday December 23 were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the frequency of the publication of several US base metal price assessments to a monthly basis, including MB-PB-0006 lead 99.97% ingot premium, ddp Midwest US; MB-SN-0036 tin 99.85% premium, in-whs Baltimore; MB-SN-0011 tin 99.85% premium, ddp Midwest US; MB-NI-0240 nickel 4x4 cathode premium, delivered Midwest US and MB-NI-0241 nickel briquette premium, delivered Midwest US.
The news that President-elect Donald Trump is considering additional tariffs on goods from China as well as on all products from US trading partners Canada and Mexico has spurred alarm in the US aluminium market at a time that is usually known to be calm.