Our Operations
Smelter
The site operates an electric arc furnace to process residues and produce an alloy containing copper, cobalt and germanium. The alloy will be processed at the new hydrometallurgical recovery plant to produce copper cathodes, cobalt hydroxide and a germanium concentrate.
Hydrometallurgical processing plant
The raw material of the Hydrometallurgical project is the red alloy from STL’s pyrometallurgy, which in turn uses slag (waste from the former foundries of Générale de Carrière and mines) as raw material.
Refining process
After grinding, a first acid leaching step puts metals in solution which are sent to the purification circuits. After subsequent leaching, separation and filtration, solvent extraction, precipitation, and electrolysis further refine the metals.
