Barrick Gold has selected Metso’s Concorde Cell™ flotation technology for its Lumwana expansion project in Zambia, with the Concorde Cell flotation cells set to work in combination with the TankCell® technology previously selected for the project.
The high-intensity Concorde Cell technology is Metso’s advanced solution for processing complex orebodies. Integrating Concorde Cell with TankCell technology represents a reliable and highly effective way to optimise the flowsheet, Metso says. The forced-air pneumatic Concorde Cell is recognised for its ability to deliver faster flotation kinetics, exceptional recovery rates of fine and ultra-fine particles and improved concentrate-grade consistency.
In 2024, Metso announced an order for the supply of comprehensive concentrator plant equipment for the Lumwana copper project.
Lumwana is a significant contributor in Barrick’s expanding copper portfolio, catering to the rapidly increasing demand for copper required for the energy transition. The project is also elemental in reviving Zambia’s copper industry and contributing to the local economy. The expansion will turn Lumwana into one of the world’s major copper mines, with projected annual production of 240,000 t/y of copper.
The expansion involves first doubling throughput by twinning the existing process circuit and then by significantly increasing mining volumes. Plant throughput will grow from the current 27 Mt to 52Mt. Commissioning of the new Barrick expansion project process plant is planned to start in the second half of 2027. Once the new process circuit is commissioned, the existing circuit will undergo a series of planned shutdowns, allowing Barrick to install upgrades, while ensuring uninterrupted copper delivery throughout the expansion.
