en.Wedoany.com Reported - CMOC Group Limited (CMOC, 603993.SH/03993.HK), through its KFM copper-cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, recently completed a specialized program covering acid consumption testing and process optimization across blasting operations, stockpiles, and the entire production process. The laboratory conducted acid leaching tests on a total of 1,724 samples, providing data support for ore blending and acid consumption control in production by precisely identifying the acid consumption characteristics of ores from different areas. Over two months, this resulted in cumulative savings of nearly 8,000 tons of sulfuric acid.
Headquartered in Luoyang, Henan Province, China, CMOC is a globally leading non-ferrous metals mining company, primarily engaged in the mining, processing, smelting, and deep processing of copper, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, niobium, and phosphorus. It is the world's second-largest cobalt producer and a leading copper producer. The KFM (Kisanfu) copper-cobalt mine is one of CMOC's core assets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2025, the company's copper production guidance is 760,000 to 820,000 tons, with plans to complete the second phase of KFM by 2027, adding 100,000 tons of copper production capacity.
According to CMOC, there is a differentiated matching relationship between ore acid consumption and copper leaching rate under different acidity conditions. The KFM laboratory conducted matching relationship tests under four conditions: pH 1.65, 1.60, 1.55, and 1.50. The results showed that the copper leaching rate does not continuously increase as the pH decreases; instead, the overall performance of the average copper leaching rate and sulfuric acid consumption per ton of ore was optimal at pH 1.55. Combined with the analysis of the results and the effectiveness of the special acid reduction campaign, KFM's average acid consumption per ton of ore during the April to May 2026 production period decreased significantly compared to the previous three months, with cumulative savings of nearly 8,000 tons of sulfuric acid over two months.
Following the technical approach of "small-scale testing first, data validation, process optimization," KFM also initiated exploratory talc flotation tests, initially establishing a flotation test process and optimizing relevant reagent parameters for the roughing stage. During the test phase, the dual goals of reducing acid consumption and increasing leaching rate were achieved. The KFM laboratory stated that it will continue to focus on on-site production needs, advancing work on acid consumption testing, flotation tests, grinding, leaching, sedimentation, and ore property studies, gradually building a technical platform integrating "production service, test validation, and talent development."
Since the beginning of this year, CMOC has moved beyond the stage of relying solely on resource acquisition and scale expansion, entering a new era of high-quality development characterized by equal emphasis on scale and capability, and the coordinated advancement of platform-based operations and refined management. KFM's path of validating process optimization through small-scale tests provides a replicable technical management paradigm for refined mine operations.
