Cathode copper produced by solvent extraction electrowinning (SX-EW) exceeded 1 million tonnes in 1995 and will rise to 2.3 million tonnes by the year 2000, representing about 20% of refined production in the West, according to Commodities Reasearch Unit International, a London-based metals consulting firm.
In its study, Electrowon Copper: The Current Status, the firm profiles 38 mines, as well as 49 projects not yet in production.
Much of the growth in SX-EW is occurring in Latin America, especially Chile, where the demand for acid is exceeding local production.
Poor availability of acid is also expected in Queensland, Australia, whereas, in the southwestern U.S., supply and demand are expected to remain in balance.
Contributing to the growth in supply of SX-EW copper is its quality, the report states. Many wire and cable producers favor SX-EW cathode because it contains few embrittling elements, such as arsenic and bismuth.
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