Namibia’s Only Copper Refinery Restarts After Four-Year Hiatus, Creating Jobs
Namibia’s Consolidated Copper Corp (CCC) has successfully restarted operations at the Tschudi copper plant, marking the first phase of a broader national mining strategy.
After being idle for four years, the plant resumed production, creating over 60 new jobs and awarding 75% of refurbishment contracts to local suppliers, CCC announced on Wednesday.
The Tschudi plant, constructed in 2015, is Namibia’s only facility capable of producing LME-grade refined copper. Prior to its closure in 2020, it produced over 80,000 tonnes of copper cathode annually.
The $20 million needed to restart the plant came through a secured debt facility from Triangle Resource Partners, backed by some of CCC’s founding shareholders.
The Namibian government views the Tschudi restart as part of a larger effort to recommission three Brownfield copper mines and enhance domestic mineral beneficiation.
CCC CEO John Sisay highlighted the project’s potential to significantly impact local communities and contribute to the clean energy value chain.
Namibia’s recent ban on unprocessed ore exports further underscores its commitment to retaining more value from its mining industry.
