Novel Copper Slag Cleaning Furnace Design, Supply and Construction

The Phase 3 expansion project at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mining Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo, executed during 2024, increased the plants copper production capacity to 600,000 tonnes per annum. The expansion included a new copper smelter using the direct-to-blister flash smelting process. The plant’s capacity makes it one of the largest, single-line copper flash smelter operations in the world, and the largest in Africa. The smelter includes an electric slag cleaning furnace that is designed and supplied by China Nerin Engineering Co, Ltd., and Tenova Pyromet from South Africa. The slag cleaning furnace technology includes the use of Nerin’s furnace vessel expertise in conjunction with Tenova Pyromet’s proven MAXICOOL® sidewall copper cooling system, slag and blister tap-hole designs, and electrode technology. The paper describes the integration of these technologies and fields of expertise to deliver a novel and class-leading copper slag cleaning furnace design and construction, supporting Kamoa in being a top-tier copper producer.