New metals processing plant for Uzbekistan

Metso’s HIGmill grinding mill is an energy-efficient plant for fine and ultra-fine grinding. (Image: Metso Outotec)

Metso Outotec has signed a contract with Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical - a leading materials specialist in Uzbekistan - for the provision of equipment and processing technology for a new concentrator plant.

Said to be the only copper producer in Uzbekistan, Almalyk manufactures copper pipe, copper wire and produces tungsten, cadmium, metallic zinc, molybdenum, lead concentrate, selenium and other materials for use in the construction materials sector.

Metso’s contract - worth in excess of €100 million (US$107.3 million) - will see the company supply Almalyk’s new MOF3 Copper-Gold-Molybdenum concentrator plant, which will process and separate mined material into minerals and non-minerals. 

The concentrator plant, which will be located at the company’s base in the city of Almalyk in the country’s Tashkent region, will incorporate Metso’s “plant positive technologies” and have a production capacity of 60 million tonnes a year. 

Markku Teräsvasara, President of Metso’s Minerals business, said, “We are very happy for being trusted with this landmark order. Special emphasis has been put on optimizing metallurgical performance and energy-efficiency of the concentrator plant.”

As well as the plant’s basic HIGMill (high intensity grinding mill) regrinding mills, TankCell flotation equipment and high-rate thickeners, Metso’s contract also includes the installation of FrothSense+TM froth cameras, Larox PF filters, slurry pumps and its MHC Series hydrocyclones.

These will be incorporated along with “CourierTM 6X SL elemental on-line analyzers and PSI500i particle size analyzers, a state-of-the-art process control system, and installation and commissioning advisory services and spare parts”.