A new LOESCHE vertical roller mill is in the process of being assembled at Aluminium Corp of China’s (Chinalco) copper smelting plant in the southern Chinese province of Fujian.

The three-roller mill will be operated by Chinalco’s Southeast Copper Ltd subsidiary and is able to grind 100 t/h of copper matte to a fineness of 20% with a sieving residue of 0.074 mm, according to LOESCHE.

Chinalco is managing the project as a joint venture with the provincial government of Fujian. The plant, in Ningde Zhangwan Industrial Zone, will be completed in the second half of 2018 and is due to produce 400,000 t/y of copper.

The LOESCHE mill has already been delivered and is now in the process of being assembled, the company noted.

The contract partner of LOESCHE and the planner of this plant is Changsha Nonferrous Metallurgy Design Institute Co Ltd from Changsha, China.