Saudi Arabia’s First Copper Smelter and Refinery Announced as Rifd Copper Company and Glencore Technology Begin Basic Engineering
Media Release
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Rifd Copper Smelting & Refinery Project will have a planned capacity of 400kpta of copper cathode production. It will be constructed and commissioned in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Rifd Project will utilise ISASMELT™, ISACONVERT™, IsaKidd™ and OxiLeach™ technologies as core elements of the plant design.
The project begins with engineering studies for the smelting facility, which will utilise Glencore Technology’s ISASMELT™ technology.
Khalid Albaz, Rifd Copper Company CEO, said "We will be the first copper smelting manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia. Our objective is to be one of the leading companies in the region in terms of development, productivity, responsibility, and value creation in the copper industry.”
Saudi Arabia is engaging in rapid efforts to become a major player in the minerals‘ super region of Africa, the Middle East and Central and Southern Asia. It is also part of its strategy to reduce dependence on oil as part of the Vision 2030 program.
The Rifd Project will be a significant component of that strategy, as Saudi Arabia evolves the metals and mining sector to be the third pillar of its economy. It’s also a rare opportunity to create a new sustainable mining industry from the very outset.
Clint Donkin, Glencore Technology’s Head of Technology, said “We’re very proud to be helping a valued client play a key role in what is a remarkable national strategy. Our technologies have established themselves as the most flexible available. That will help position the project as future-proof and able to adapt to different economic opportunities over a long time.”
Dr Stanko Nikolic, Glencore Technology’s Director of Technologies, said “The work begins on the ISASMELT™ technology. Combining this with our OxiLeach™ technology it allows us to craft a flexible smelting operation that can efficiently and cleanly process different types of feed.”
“The ISASMELT™, OxiLeach™ and ISACONVERT™ technologies together enable a continuous treatment of a variety of copper feeds while operating to an extremely low emissions profile,” he said. “It should be both the most flexible and cleanest plant in the world. Combining this with the industry standard IsaKidd™ process for copper refining, this plant will be producing high quality Grade A copper cathode.”
The studies are expected to be completed in 2024 and to contribute to a financial investment decision in early 2025. It will be one of the largest basic engineering studies undertaken by Glencore Technology as it utilises four technologies to deliver a complete treatment solution from concentrate to commercial copper product.
For further information, please contact:
ISASMELT™️
e: isasmelt@glencore.com.au
Marketing: Stephen Johnson
email: Marketing team