Oxide Copper Ore Processing in Namibia

The image below shows oxide copper ore material from Namibia. The customer is based in Namibia, and the ore contains approximately 1.5% copper. Their goal is to produce copper concentrate from this material.

After evaluating the ore, our engineer recommended using acid leaching for copper recovery. This is due to the ore’s low copper content and the large quantity available, making leaching a more practical and cost-effective method.

However, the customer prefers to use the electrowinning process. We advised them that electrowinning facilities are limited in China. The process is costly, and the required technology and equipment are difficult to export, as they are controlled by a small number of specialized manufacturers.

Therefore, we suggested that the customer begin with beneficiation testing to determine the most effective method. We recommended conducting two types of tests:

Flotation testing
Leaching testing