The Tsumeb specialty smelter in Namibia provides a secure processing outlet for concentrate from our Chelopech operation in Bulgaria. Since acquiring the operation in 2010, we have been focused on transforming the smelter’s performance through operational stability, efficiencies and cost reduction.
| Ownership |
92% |
| Location |
Tsumeb, Namibia |
| Operation |
Specialty smelter |
| 2021 results |
190,000 tonnes of concentrate smelted |
| 2022 guidance |
185,000 to 200,000 tonnes of concentrate smelted |
Overview
Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb (Pty) Limited), is located in Tsumeb, Namibia approximately 430 km north of the capital city of Windhoek. Tsumeb is the closest town to the Etosha National Park and has a population of 45,000 people. The smelter was constructed in the early 1960’s to process concentrate from the Tsumeb copper mine and other mines in the country. It is linked by rail to the Atlantic port of Walvis Bay in Namibia.
The facility consists of a primary smelting furnace, the Ausmelt furnace, two Peirce Smith Converters, bag houses and cooling towers, a slag milling plant, two high voltage distribution sub-stations, a materials handling facility, two oxygen plants, a fume extraction system and a sulphuric acid plant. The smelter employs approximately 800 people.
The smelter is one of only a few in the world that can treat complex copper concentrates. Blister copper and sulphuric acid are smelter products. The blister copper is delivered to refineries in Europe and Asia for final processing to copper metal. Sulphuric acid is a critical component in the mining industry, particularly for uranium and copper production businesses. Thus, the smelter can take a by-product of copper and turn it into something of value for Namibia.
History
The smelter plant was built in the early 1960’s.
The smelter was part of the earlier Ongopolo mining and processing group and the Weatherly International plc. (WTI) mining and processing business in Namibia.
In March 2010, Dundee Precious Metals Inc. acquired the smelter operation from WTI, and immediately implemented an ambitious plan to bring the operation in line with good industry practice and standards.
Arsenic capture was improved as part of the response to arsenic storage and handling. The arsenic storage site was designed and built, and is being operated, according to good international practice. The site is licensed by the Namibian government and is regularly inspected and audited by third party auditors.
Workers are regularly tested for arsenic exposure as part of a comprehensive employee health and safety program. Continuous Air Quality monitoring, with data verified by an independent technical party, measure community exposure to arsenic.
DPM continues to implement international good practices regarding arsenic management, including further reduction of emissions and ensuring safe long-term storage of wastes.