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BY LEONARD MAGOMBA, Friday, 6 APRIL 2012
Dar es Salaam The Danformation (T) Ltd has injected around US$ 15 to 20 million to construct an industrial copper smelting plant in Tanzania as it seeks to export over 200 metric tonnes of refined copper blister per month during its first year of operation in Tanzania.
This is the first time for the mining firm to invest in copper smelting in Tanzania; a move which an expert says will boost the country's foreign earning and create employment.
Speaking to East African Business Week in Dar es Salaam last week, the firm's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Joshua Dalgaard said the processing plant will have the capacity to produce up to 10,000 metric tonnes per month when it is fully upgraded.
"We have invested about US$15 to $20 million to construct our copper smelting plant in Tanzania which will have the capacity to produce up to 10,000 metric tonnes per month when the plant becomes fully operational," said Dalgaard.
He said the business of copper and smelting in Tanzania is in its infancy. "As first movers we expect to further enhance cooperation with many more copper oxide ore exporters, miners and agents," he said.
Dalgaard said their end product is copper blister on 90-98% pure copper. The copper blisters are exported to the international market.
"We get our supply of copper ore from the local market in Tanzania, adding value to the many mining communities around," he said
Presently, he added, "we are able to smelt between 1,000 and 1,500 metric tonnes per month. Within one year we have planned to increase our production capacity to approximately 10,000 metric tonnes per month by building new state-of-the-art furnaces."
"We are expecting to export over 200 metric tonnes of refined copper blister per month during the first year of operation," he said.
According to Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources statistics, Tanzania exported over 35,000 metric tonnes of copper ore in 2010.
"If those copper oxide ores are smelted at our plant and not exported it will further add value, Dalgaard said.
A company official, Christopher Msengi said there is sufficient demand for copper blister on the world market for many years to come.
"Our plant supplies only a drop in the ocean compared to world demand," Msengi told East African Business Week via email.
He said around 20 small scale miners have been benefitting so far.
"We are dealing with more than 20 miners at this stage and we expect to involve more miners as times goes by," he said the CEO.
The copper firm, a joint venture between Danish and Tanzanian firms, was incorporated in March 2011 and started refurbishing its plant in August 2011
Dar es Salaam The Danformation (T) Ltd has injected around US$ 15 to 20 million to construct an industrial copper smelting plant in Tanzania as it seeks to export over 200 metric tonnes of refined copper blister per month during its first year of operation in Tanzania.
This is the first time for the mining firm to invest in copper smelting in Tanzania; a move which an expert says will boost the country's foreign earning and create employment.
Speaking to East African Business Week in Dar es Salaam last week, the firm's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Joshua Dalgaard said the processing plant will have the capacity to produce up to 10,000 metric tonnes per month when it is fully upgraded.
"We have invested about US$15 to $20 million to construct our copper smelting plant in Tanzania which will have the capacity to produce up to 10,000 metric tonnes per month when the plant becomes fully operational," said Dalgaard.
He said the business of copper and smelting in Tanzania is in its infancy. "As first movers we expect to further enhance cooperation with many more copper oxide ore exporters, miners and agents," he said.
Dalgaard said their end product is copper blister on 90-98% pure copper. The copper blisters are exported to the international market.
"We get our supply of copper ore from the local market in Tanzania, adding value to the many mining communities around," he said
Presently, he added, "we are able to smelt between 1,000 and 1,500 metric tonnes per month. Within one year we have planned to increase our production capacity to approximately 10,000 metric tonnes per month by building new state-of-the-art furnaces."
"We are expecting to export over 200 metric tonnes of refined copper blister per month during the first year of operation," he said.
According to Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources statistics, Tanzania exported over 35,000 metric tonnes of copper ore in 2010.
"If those copper oxide ores are smelted at our plant and not exported it will further add value, Dalgaard said.
A company official, Christopher Msengi said there is sufficient demand for copper blister on the world market for many years to come.
"Our plant supplies only a drop in the ocean compared to world demand," Msengi told East African Business Week via email.
He said around 20 small scale miners have been benefitting so far.
"We are dealing with more than 20 miners at this stage and we expect to involve more miners as times goes by," he said the CEO.
The copper firm, a joint venture between Danish and Tanzanian firms, was incorporated in March 2011 and started refurbishing its plant in August 2011
