Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan does not rule out the construction of a new copper-smeltery in Armenia in a few years. Talking to NEWS.am the Minister pointed out the need for higher copper output.

This year, copper concentrate output has totaled 116.4 thousand tons in Armenia – a 32.6% increase as compared with last year. With the current production rates, the construction of a copper-smeltery will be economically sound in a few years. Experts say that the construction will be economically sound provided the annual capacity is at least 200,000 tons of copper concentrate. The construction requires at least U.S. $100 million. The annual capacity of Europe’s largest copper-smeltery is 1.2 million tons of copper concentrate, with its annual output being 550,000 tons of copper. Another problem is the great amount of sulfuric acid produced during copper refinery, which cannot be stored or “buried”.

A small copper-smeltery construction technology has recently been applied in Finland. The Kajaran copper-smelting plant is now negotiating with a Finnish organization for the construction of a small copper-smeltery in Armenia.

NEWS.am reminds readers that a copper-smelting plant is operating in Alaverdi, Armenia. However, the plant is employing morally and physically obsolete technologies, which cause environmental problems.