A supersized combo--Xstrata's Kidd Nine and Kidd Metallurgical Site

摘要

The expansion at Xstrata Copper's Kidd Mine -- one of the world's largest VMS deposits and deepest base metal mines -- is buttressed by an alliance with one of the world's most up-to-date processing facilities. What a difference just six months make. Late last year, Xstrata Copper announced a 121 million dollars upgrade of its Kidd Mine operations in northern Ontario. The move, which would add 3.4 million tonnes of ore to its mine plan, has increased the planned production rate over the next eight years and extended projected mine life by one year. World economic growth and copper demand has been slowing, but no one foresaw that copper prices would plunge from their mid-year high of 4.08 dollars per pound to 1.32 dollars per pound by year end.