The Musonoi Project runs steadily. [Photo/WeChat account: jinchuanjituan]
The Musonoi Project, operated by Metorex, a subsidiary of Jinchuan Group (Hong Kong) Resources Holdings, has delivered solid first-half results through integrated management and lean operations.
Focusing on safety, process optimization, and capacity ramp-up, the team has successfully improved both production efficiency and safety.
To address the complex copper-cobalt oxide-sulfide mixed ore, the project has adapted Jinchuan's mature mining, processing, and smelting technologies to local conditions.
Underground mining has adopted sublevel open stoping with subsequent backfill, significantly reducing the development ratio and increasing extraction rates.
Tailings were partially returned to stopes for solid waste recycling. The concentrator used SAG-ball mill closed-circuit grinding and multi-stage flotation to produce qualified concentrates.
The smelter introduced low-temperature sulfation fluidized roasting with leaching and solvent extraction, while off-gas was treated with an ionic liquid desulfurization system to recover SO2 and produce 98 percent commercial sulfuric acid, both increasing production capacity and strengthening environmental benefits.
A three-tier equipment management system — preventive maintenance, dynamic inspections, and localized repairs — ensures high operational rates for key machinery, minimizing unplanned downtime despite challenging logistics and harsh weather.
Since trial production began in September 2025, the project has coordinated mining, processing, and smelting seamlessly.
By June 30, 2026, underground development had reached 56.03 percent of the annual plan, ore output 52.82 percent, mill feed 50.65 percent, cathode copper 50.14 percent, and cobalt metal 51.26 percent — all meeting or exceeding targets. The project remains on track to fulfill its year-end goals, reinforcing Jinchuan's overseas mining brand.
