Tuesday, August 14, 2012 -
Australian-based Frontier Mining has commenced copper cathode production at the Benkala copper mine in eastern Kazakhstan, it said Tuesday.
The mine is located 280 miles east of Aqtobe.
Production began on August 7, while the firm produced its first copper sheets days later on August 11, the company said in a Tuesday statement.
“Now our team will turn its attention to ramping up the production level to the design capacity,” Frontier Mining CEO Erlan Sagadiev said in the statement.
The mine is expected to produce 3 karats (kt) of cathode-grade copper this year, and is anticipated to increase production to 7-10 kt in 2013. Starting in 2014, the mine is expected to produce 20 kt.
The mine began producing pure copper in April 2012.
Frontier Mining has 100% ownership of the mine.