Solwezi is a fast-growing town due to the booming mining industry – which has made it an international attraction for investments. The Kansanshi copper-gold mine, 10km north of Solwezi, is the largest copper producer in Africa and has been the flagship operation of First Quantum Minerals since 2005. The mine is owned and operated by Kansanshi Mining PLC, which is 80% owned by First Quantum. Kansanshi, has undergone several expansions since it began operation in 2005. The mine is capable of producing 340 000t of copper and over 120 000oz of gold annually.
Kansanshi is a vein deposit containing both copper and gold and these minerals are extracted using conventional methods across two large open pits – Main and Northwest. Ore treatment is flexible to allow for variation in ore type either through an oxide circuit, a sulphide circuit and a transitional ore ‘mixed float’ circuit with facilities to beneficiate flotation concentrate to final cathode via the high-pressure leach circuit. Gold is recovered from all ore types by six gravity concentrators and then Gemini tables treat the gravity concentrates and produce a high-grade concentrate for direct smelting to gold bullion (https://www.first-quantum.com/English/our-operations/default.aspx).
