Kazzinc project award for technical excellence

The 2008 annual PACE Zenith Awards were announced in Sydney last week: Mipac once again was awarded a prize for Australian technical excellence

Mipac was honoured to receive the Award for Technical Excellence in the Metal Products Category for its contribution to the Kazzinc New Metallurgy Project in Kazakhstan.

The Mipac role was to design and commission a plant wide control system - a major component of the upgrade to the Kazzinc Ust - Kamenogorsk site.

Mipac worked closely with Kazzinc and Xstrata Technology to tailor the installation to the client's needs.

The end result will provide the customer with a seamless, automated control strategy that operates plant wide.

With this solution, Mipac will enable Kazzinc to increase the efficiency and profitability of their electro-refining operation; improve operator safety and produce larger amounts of high quality copper cathode with the same level of input.

This is the third Mipac Zenith recognition, having been awarded twice in 2006.

The PACE awards were introduced in 2004 to recognise and reward companies that show leadership in engineering and technological excellence and innovation.

Xstrata Technology develops, markets and supports technologies for the global mineral processing and metals smelting and refining industries.

These technologies include Kidd Process copper refining and winning technology, the Jameson Cell flotation machine, and Albion Process leaching technology.

Kazzinc is a major fully integrated Zinc producer with considerable Copper, precious metals and Lead credits.

All the company's operations are in Kazakhstan, spread over six towns.

It employs some 22,000 people in mining, ore dressing, metallurgy, power generation and mechanical production.

The Ust-Kamenogorsk metallurgical complex consists of a 180,000 tpa Zinc refinery, a 140,000 tpa Lead smelter and a precious metals refinery.

Back to top