Page 156 - CW E-Magazine (20-2-2024)

News from Abroad

TACKLING SUPPLY DEFICIT
BASF announces partnership to enhance copper

mining efficiency

BASF and hydroGEOPHYSICS Inc. customer’s site have demonstrated a
(HGI), a US provider of geophysical 20% increase in copper recovery dur-
services to the mining industry, have ing the trial period, prompting further
announced an exclusive partnership testing on a larger scale to quantify the
aimed at combining expertise in mine- benefits. “Technological advancements
ral processing, hydrometallurgy, and are essential if the industry is to meet
deep-well injection. The collaboration the projected copper demand going for-
aims to optimise copper extraction in ward. Using HGI’s expertise to identify
the mining industry by utilising HGI’s involves piling low-grade ores onto a areas of poor heap leach performance
geophysical techniques to identify liner and dripping a lixiviant (usually and then targeting these areas through
areas within the heap that currently offer acid) over the heap to dissolve copper deep well technology and BASF’s
poor recovery and will involve the into solution, offers a cost-effective LixTRA reagent is a great example of
design and implementation of a deep-well method for copper extraction. How- how partnerships can drive sustainable
injection programme, incorporating ever, the non-uniformity of heaps often process improvements in the mining
BASF’s ‘LixTRA’ leach aid to facilitate leads to areas of ore compaction and industry,” said Ms. Caren Hoffman, Vice
a significant uplift in copper extraction. poor lixiviant permeation, resulting in President Mining Solutions at BASF.
suboptimal metal recovery. Mr. Brian Cubbage, Executive Vice
With the increasing demand for President, Operations at HGI, added,
copper driven by both traditional HGI employs state-of-the-art geo- “Enhancing copper recovery in a sus-
end-user markets and the transition to physical technologies to characterise tainable and safe manner is the main
green energy, there is a strong need for the structural components of the heaps, focus for most of the mines HGI works
new mines. However, challenges such enabling the design, operation, and with. Leveraging HGI’s expertise in
as declining ore grades, higher costs monitoring of targeted lixiviant injec- locating and enhancing copper recovery
and ESG (Environmental, Social and tion wells. By adding BASF’s ‘LixTRA’ in underperforming areas in heap leach
Governance) responsibilities have limi- leach aid, greater ore-lixiviant contact pads, with applying BASF’s LixTRA
ted medium- to long-term mine sup- is made, which ultimately leads to reagent through our injection programs,
ply, resulting in a large looming supply higher copper dissolution and increased has provided a significant boost in the
deficit. The heap leach process, which metal recovery. Initial results from a efficiency of copper recovery.”

LOGISTICS
Heubach to pass on surcharges imposed by global

carriers due to Red Sea crisis

Heubach Group, the German supplier origin and plant location. The surcharge but also cost,” said Mr. Tyler Kilgannon,
of pigments, dyes and speciality mate- can be released or further increased Senior Vice President Sales Europe and
rials, has announced it will pass on to depending on escalation or termination of Americas. “After the logistic price in-
its customers the surcharges global car- the conflict in the Red Sea, the company crease in Europe and the Americas and
riers have imposed on their shipments said. “Heubach has been monitoring the recently also in Asia we are committed to
due to the situation on the Red Sea and situation closely in recent weeks and has keep all cost drivers under control and the
Suez Canal. As of February 1, 2024, a adopted its business to ensure there is as impact on our customers at a minimum.
temporary freight surcharge between little impact as possible on supply of our But after significant reflection, we can no
€0.10/kg and €0.25/kg will be added to pigments, preparations and dyes. But the longer absorb these higher logistic costs,”
the product price. It has been calculated short term changes and new routes adop- explained Mr. Takayoshi Miyatani,
based on logistic routes, raw material ted add not only additional time in transit, Senior Vice President Sales AMEA.

156 Chemical Weekly February 20, 2024

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