Successful commissioning of AmmLeach^® copper/cobalt plant in South Africa has produced its first copper and cobalt cathode metal. This first AmmLeach plant in the world has two circuits through to copper and cobalt cathode metal, where the majority of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) cobalt is currently produced as a concentrate requiring further processing outside the DRC. The DRC currently supplies over half of the world’s annual cobalt mine production (98,000 t), which has a current global annual value of around $2.8 billion. Alexander believes that its AmmLeach process offers a clear competitive advantage for the production of cobalt through to metal cathode in the DRC, as well as offering a way to treat high-acid-consuming carbonate copper ores in the DRC that hitherto have been uneconomic to treat.

Martin Rosser, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted with the results of the commissioning of our AmmLeach copper/cobalt demonstration pilot plant in South Africa. We look forward to building on the success as part of our current commercialisation activities for our AmmLeach® technology in the DRC Copperbelt.