Optimal Production of Electrolytic Copper Determined by the Concentration and Distribution of Copper Concentrates to Smelters on the Example of KGHM

摘要

The issues of copper production strategy for the Polish copper industry are presented in the article. The problem is considered within the scope of the ore extraction, ore concentration and metallurgical processing of the copper concentrate and the main aim is to produce the specific amount of copper, which generates maximum technological and economic benefits. In order to determine the strategy of production for a company an optimisation approach may be applied with the target function defined as either the maximization of metal recovery or the maximization of profit. The real operating conditions are implemented into the model, together with existing limitation resulting from the concentration technology and metallurgical treatment. The problem verification was possible with using of non-linear programming theory. Two variants were considered: the first for lower production costs, and the second for low stock market prices. The presented optimal strategies determine the copper grades of concentrates as well as the system of concentrates distribution between three smelters. Generally smelters should receive concentrates with higher copper grades for low stock market metal prices and for low processing costs the mass of concentrates delivered to smelters should be higher together with decreased the copper grades.