In a twinkling of an eye, 2022 will also be near the end. Looking forward to 2023, many world-class mines in China will be put into production, which will also be a bumper year for China's mining industry.
(1) Shougang Group - Macheng Iron Mine
Iron ore has always been the "woe" of China's mining industry. From "neck" to "wrist", with the promotion of the "cornerstone plan" plan, the road to the revival of domestic iron ore has quietly opened!
According to Mysteel's statistics, there are more than 100 new, reconstructed and expanded iron ore projects in China. From 2021-2025, the raw ore capacity that may be completed and put into operation is 250 million tons, the iron concentrate capacity is 60 million tons, and the capacity of about 40 million tons is still in the research stage.
The proven iron ore resource of Macheng Iron Mine under construction is 1.044 billion tons. It is estimated that there will be another future resource of about 500 million tons, with an average ore grade of 35%. At present, the construction is in full swing. It is expected to be put into production in 2023, with an iron concentrate capacity of 7 million tons/year
(2) Luoyang Molybdenum Industry - KFM Copper Cobalt Ore Production and TFM Expansion
The KFM copper cobalt ore of Luoyang Molybdenum Industry is located in the Central African copper cobalt ore belt in Congo (Kinshasa), Africa, 33 kilometers away from its existing TFM copper cobalt ore. In December 2020, Luoyang Molybdenum Industry obtained 95% of the rights and interests of the mine from FCX with 550 million dollars.
KFM copper cobalt ore is one of the largest and highest grade copper cobalt ore projects to be developed in the world. At present, the first phase of the mine development project is in progress and is expected to be put into production in the first half of 2023. In the future, KFM copper cobalt mine is expected to produce 90000 tons of copper metal and 30000 tons of cobalt metal annually.
In addition, Luoyang Molybdenum TFM Copper Cobalt Mixed Ore Project plans to build three production lines, namely 3.5 million tons/year mixed ore production line, 3.3 million tons/year oxidized ore production line and 5.6 million tons/year mixed ore production line. The project is planned to be completed and put into operation in 2023. After reaching the capacity, it is expected to increase the annual output of copper by about 200000 tons and cobalt by about 17000 tons.
(3) Ganfeng Lithium - Cauchari Olaroz Lithium Salt Lake
The Cauchari Olaroz Salt Lake Project is located in Huhui Province in the northwest of Argentina. According to the estimation of mineral reserves in May 2019, the resource amount of Cauchari Olaroz is about 24.58 million tons of LCE. The lithium resource reserves support the annual output of more than 40000 tons of battery grade lithium carbonate for more than 40 years. The project is one of the largest lithium extraction projects in the world.
At present, Ganfeng Lithium holds 46.67% of the equity of Minera Exar, and Minera Exar owns the Cauchari Olaroz project. The single module commissioning of the project started in August this year, and the capacity is expected to be gradually released from the end of 2022 to the first half of 2023.
In addition to the Cauchari Olaroz lithium salt lake, Ganfeng Lithium Australia's MtMarion mine will also complete the second phase of capacity expansion in 2023, and plans to expand the existing lithium concentrate capacity to 900000 tons/year.
(4) Zijin Mining - Kamoa Copper Mine Technical Improvement Project
The 3800000 t/a concentrator in Phase I of Kamoa Copper Mine Project will be completed and put into operation in May 2021; The Phase II 3.8 million ton/year concentrator will be put into operation ahead of schedule in March 2022. At present, relying on the existing facilities of Phase I and Phase II projects, Kamoa Copper Mine is investing about 50 million dollars to upgrade some pipelines and equipment. It is planned to increase the total design capacity of ore processing capacity of Phase I and Phase II projects from 7.6 million tons/year to 9.2 million tons/year in the second quarter of 2023, an increase of more than 21%. By then, the total capacity of Kamoa Copper Mine will reach 450000 tons in the second quarter of 2023, which will become the fourth largest copper mine in the world.
(5) Tianhua Era - Manono Lithium Ore
The Manono Lithium Mine is located in the Congo (Kinshasa), which is one of the largest lithium rich LCT (lithium, cesium, tantalum) pegmatite deposits that can be developed in the open air. The JORC report updated in July 2021 shows that the total resource amount reaches 401 million tons, the average grade of lithium oxide is 1.63%, and the equivalent of lithium carbonate (LCE) is 16.32 million tons.
Manono Lithium Mine is the largest spodumene mine to be put into production at present, with an estimated annual production capacity of 700000 tons and an estimated production time of 2023.
At present, Manono Lithium Mine is 100% owned by Congo (Kinshasa) Dathcom Company, and Dathcom Company has become the "main battlefield" of all parties, including Australia AVZ Company, China Suzhou Tianhua Times, Zijin Mining, etc
(6) Chuanneng Power - Lijiagou Lithium Mine
Lijiagou Lithium Mine is located in Jinchuan County, Sichuan Province. The proven mineral resource reserves are 38.812 million tons, with an average grade of 1.3%. It is the largest single spodumene mine in Asia that has been proved and obtained a mining certificate.
Lijiagou spodumene mining and beneficiation project was started in 2018. It is planned to process 4200 tons of raw ore per day, 1.05 million tons of raw ore per year and produce about 180000 tons of concentrate per year. It is reported that as of October 24, 2022, Lijiagou has produced more than 60000 tons of infrastructure mines this year, including 45500 tons of infrastructure mines that have been sold and recognized as revenue, which basically indicates that Lijiagou Mine has entered the final sprint stage before production.
Dexin Mining, which is controlled by Sichuan Energy Investment Lithium, owns the mining right of Lijiagou Lithium Mine. In 2021, Sichuan Energy Power completed the acquisition of 62.75% of the equity of Sichuan Energy Investment Lithium with 927 million yuan, and the remaining equity (37.25%) belongs to Yahua Group.
7. Zijin Mining - Phase I Project of 3Q Salt Lake Lithium Mine in Argentina
Zijin Mining Argentina 3Q lithium salt lake project is located in the famous "lithium triangle" in South America, which is one of the largest and highest grade projects of its kind in the world. With large resources, high grade, low impurities and good development conditions, it has good prospecting prospects and large production expansion potential.
The project was officially started in March this year. In June, the first phase of brine extraction and tanning was started. In October, 20 kg of qualified lithium carbonate 名媛直播 were successfully produced. At present, Zijin Mining is making every effort to promote the overall construction. Phase I plans to produce 20000 tons of battery grade lithium carbonate annually, which is expected to be completed and put into operation by the end of 2023.
8. Five mineral resources - Chalcobamba open-pit mine of Bambas Copper Mine
The community protests led to a series of long-term road blockages, and the copper concentrate of Las Bambas, a Minmetals resource, was deeply mired.
Earlier this year, the Peruvian government approved the construction of the second open-pit mine of the mine, called Chalcobamba, which is expected to start operation at the end of this year. However, the project was put on hold due to the protest of the indigenous Huancuire community that once owned the land.
Minmetals Resources said in its half year financial performance: "After a lasting agreement is reached, Las Bambas will immediately promote the substantial development of Chalcobamba pit."
9. Huayou Cobalt Industry - Huafei Nickel Cobalt Project
Huafei Nickel Cobalt Project is located in Weidabe Industrial Park, North Maluku Province, Indonesia. Nickel cobalt hydroxide is extracted from laterite, which has multiple advantages such as low cost, green and environmental protection. After being put into operation, it can produce 120000 tons of nickel cobalt hydroxide annually. It is expected that the first half of 2023 will have feeding conditions, which will have a epoch-making impact on the global nickel production industry pattern and nickel consumption field.
10. Huayou Cobalt Industry - Arcadia Lithium Mine
At the end of 2021, Huayou Cobalt acquired the prospect lithium mine in Zimbabwe at a price of 422 million dollars, and owned 100% of the equity of Arcadia lithium mine in Zimbabwe. As of October 2021, the standard resource quantity of Arcadia Project JORC (2012) announced by Prospect Company is 72.7 million tons, lithium oxide grade is 1.06%, tantalum pentoxide grade is 121 ppm, lithium oxide metal quantity is 770000 tons (lithium carbonate equivalent is 1.9 million tons), and tantalum pentoxide metal quantity is 8800 tons. Among them, the reserves are 42.3 million tons, the lithium oxide grade is 1.19%, the tantalum pentoxide grade is 121 ppm, the lithium oxide metal quantity is 504000 tons (lithium carbonate equivalent is 1.24 million tons), and the tantalum pentoxide metal quantity is 5126 tons.
According to media reports, the lithium mine project was started in May this year. It is planned to complete the installation of main equipment and start trial operation in the first half of 2023. After the project is completed, it is estimated that the annual processing capacity will be 4.5 million tons, forming an annual output of 297000 tons of spodumene concentrate, 173000 tons of technical grade lithium permeable feldspar concentrate, and 62000 tons of chemical grade lithium permeable feldspar concentrate.
