UMMC explores developing the Udokan copper deposit

BATEMAN is providing assistance to the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC) in the proposed development of the Udokan copper deposit in the Chita region, Russia.

Senior BATEMAN personnel accompanied Konstantin Plekhanov, UMMC Technical Director, and Sergei Yerypalov, UMMC Director for Construction and Revamping Projects, on a visit to several of Mount Isa Mines’ copper-processing facilities in Australia. The objective of the trip was to afford UMMC’s top managers the opportunity to view the application of state-of-the-art copper-processing technologies.

The first visit was to a Mount Isa Mines copper refinery in Townsville which uses the unique Isa Process successfully installed in 30 plants around the world, though not yet in Russia. The second was to a modern concentrator with a capacity of 10M t/yr near Mount Isa, where technologies were used which have cut costs and maintained a very high level of productivity. Remarkably, this large plant is operated by a staff of only 400 people. Apparently, UMMC could consider a similar facility for Udokan. The final plant visited was at the Mt Gordon mine, which used autoclave leaching on a small-scale deposit to produce refined copper without the need for a high capital investment.

In an address to the Parliament (DUMA) of the Russian Federation in April this year, Andrey Kozitsyn, General Director of UMMC explained the vital importance to the Chita region and the Kalarsky district in particular of developing the Udokan copper deposit. While the project posed severe geologic, climatic and financing challenges, it would give fresh social and economic impetus to the area through the development of the infrastructure and boosting the freight load on the BAM railway network.

According to UMMC, the perceived optimal size of the first-phase of the Udokan project is 130 000 t/yr of copper gleaned from 10M t/yr of ore, potentially providing for all of the nation’s copper needs. Before the project could proceed, however, the Russian Government had to resolve the licensing issue. According to UMMC it was vital that the copper be processed locally rather than copper concentrate being sold abroad. This alone would save Russia about a billion roubles a year in taxes.

More information may be obtained from

Steve Burks, Managing Director, Bateman Metals, on +27-11-899-2756 or email base@batemanengineering.com

Tony Cau, BATEMAN Business Manager, Copper, on +61-7-3320-3333 or email Tony.Cau@batepro.com.au.

VIEW PDF