KAZ Minerals has announced that the Bankable Feasibility Study for the Baimskaya copper project in Russia has been completed and approved by the KAZ Minerals Ltd Board of Directors. This represents a significant project milestone enabling the group to progress with the financing and construction of this world-class copper asset.
The Baimskaya copper project is the planned development of a globally significant copper resource with a forecast capital construction cost of $8.5 billion. The mine is expected to have a life of 20+ years and will start up by the end of 2027, with average annual copper production of 300,000 t and gold production of 490,000 oz during the first ten full years of operation.
Life of mine copper and gold processing grades are estimated at 0.47% and 0.27 g/t respectively, with elevated grades expected in the early years of production. The project has competitive net cash costs and is expected to be in the first quartile on the global cost curve. Historic data and drilling conducted during the BFS indicate the potential for the mine life to be extended.
The processing plant will have a total ore processing capacity of 70 Mt/y from two lines, building on the technologies used at the group’s Aktogay and Bozshakol mines in Kazakhstan.
Pioneering works continue at the mine site and the required infrastructure is being progressed with the Russian government in accordance with the Complex Development Plan for the Chukotka region.
A 428 km all-weather road will be constructed between the Baimskaya mine site and a new port will be built at Cape Nagloynyn for the shipment of copper concentrate to market via the Northern Sea Route. Carbon-free power will be supplied to the site from a nuclear facility to be constructed and operated by Rosatom, enabling the Group to produce very low-carbon copper.
Oleg Novachuk, Chair of KAZ Minerals, said: “The completion of the Baimskaya Bankable Feasibility Study marks an exciting milestone for KAZ Minerals as the group progresses the development of one of the world’s largest copper resources. Copper is fundamental to a more sustainable future and Baimskaya will help meet the growing demand for this metal, as well as bringing a range of benefits to Russia and its Chukotka region.”
