Copper Processing at the Company
Copper Cathode Production via Hydrometallurgy
Our company is at the forefront of hydrometallurgical technology, using Solvent Extraction (SX) and Electrowinning (EW) methods to produce LME Grade A copper cathodes (99.999% purity), in full compliance with the London Metal Exchange (LME) international standards.
Our Facilities
Our production facilities are located in the Skouriotissa and Apliki areas of Cyprus, where a comprehensive production process is carried out, including:
- Mining
- Ore preparation
- Heap Leaching
- Low-grade ore Dump Leaching
- Bacterial Leaching
During this process, the copper-bearing solution (Pregnant Leach Solution) is combined with the solution resulting from hydrometallurgical processing of the ore.
Next, Solvent Extraction (SX) is applied to remove contaminants and enrich the solution, producing a concentrated copper electrolyte.
The purified solution is then directed to the Electrowinning (EW) unit, where copper is deposited onto high-purity cathodes in specially designed electrolytic cells.
Our Technology
Solvent Extraction technology began to be applied internationally in the late 1960s, replacing the polluting methods of Pyrometallurgy.
The process relies on ion exchange between two immiscible phases, one organic and one aqueous, to produce a pure, conductive solution rich in copper ions.
This solution (the electrolyte) undergoes electrolysis, resulting in high-purity metallic copper — the final product of the process.
Our Electrowinning unit has an annual production capacity of 8,500 tons of copper cathodes.