Aurubis decides to double Georgia smelter’s capacity

The metals firm now tasks it is going to spend an extra 340 million euros ($375 million) on its Augusta, Ga. smelter. | Courtesy of Aurubis

As building progresses “at full steam” on its secondary smelter in Georgia, Aurubis has determined to spend an extra $276 million to double the plant’s metals restoration capability. 

The Germany-headquartered metals firm disclosed that it now plans to take a position a complete of 640 million euros ($707 million) to construct the smelter in Augusta, Ga. After deciding so as to add a second recycling module, the plant will now have a throughput capability of 180,000 tons per yr. 

The mission, which broke floor in mid-2022, was beforehand deliberate to value 300 million euros ($331 million) and have a throughput of 90,000 tons per yr. 

The Aurubis board in December determined to spice up capital funding within the plant, which is able to recycle printed circuit boards, cables and different scrap supplies. On March 27, the corporate introduced it has signed a contract with German tools producer SMS Group for the second recycling module. 

In keeping with an Aurubis quarterly report launched in February, the elevated spending is a results of the extra recycling system, in addition to inflation and changes for infrastructure prices. Particularly, the corporate is spending an extra 250 million euros ($276 million) on the second processing system and 90 million euros ($99 million) to account for infrastructure value will increase and inflation. 

The quarterly report notes manufacturing on the Augusta plant is now scheduled to start in 2026. The corporate forecasts the ability will produce about 170 million euros ($188 million) in earnings earlier than curiosity, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) beginning within the 2026-27 fiscal yr, the report said. 

Permits obtained, contract signed

After receiving its air high quality permits from Georgia authorities final yr, Aurubis subsidiary Aurubis Richmond broke floor in June 2022, and “building is presently working at full steam,” in keeping with a late-March Aurubis press launch. Environmental group Savannah Riverkeeper had opposed issuing the permits.

Particulars on the corporate’s know-how are described in a Georgia Division of Pure Sources air allow narrative doc.

In March, Aurubis signed a contract with SMS Group, which is able to provide a second processing module. The core know-how in that system is a top-blown rotary converter, which processes advanced metals-bearing fractions in order that copper, nickel, tin and treasured metals will be recovered in downstream steps, in keeping with a press launch. 

The plant will produce blister copper, which shall be processed into industrial and treasured metals on the firm’s European smelter websites, with a number of the last merchandise bought straight again into the U.S. market.

The discharge notes the Augusta tools is modular, permitting for the addition of parts sooner or later. 

“The modular system means we are able to plan a prudent market technique that permits us to reply flexibly to the wants within the US,” Aurubis CEO Roland Harings said within the launch. “So Aurubis will profit from the fixed market development within the US.”

The primary stage of the plant is scheduled to return on-line within the first half of 2024. The second module is scheduled to return on-line in 2026. 

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