Alessandro Pescetelli

Abstract:

China, in the framework of the national lead industry developing and modernization plan, has implemented both the most advanced lead smelting processes used worldwide, and domestic technologies developed in recent years. Two major Chinese Corporations, Jiangxi Copper Corporation (JCC), and Zhuzhou Smelter Group Co., decided respectively in 2008 and 2009 to build two new lead smelter of 100-120 kt per year based on Kivcet technology through the purchase of a license granted by VNIItsvetmet Institute of Kazakhstan, while the project execution was committed to the Changsha Design and Research Institute of Nonferrous Metallurgy, Hunan, China by means of an Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contract.<br />Two Italian Companies assured the know how transfer of the industrial Kivcet technology as developed and practiced through their thirty years experience in design and operation of Kivcet Plant: specifically, Forni Engineering S.r.l., Milan, Italy through the supply of a full package of detailed engineering of the Kivcet Unit (also including the Continuous Decopperizing Furnace), and Texeco Consulting, through the supply of technical assistance services in the training and commissioning phase of the Kivcet Unit.<br />Both Kivcet furnaces were successfully started up, between 2012 and 2013, and have been successfully running from that time onward, thus demonstrating, among the others, the ability of Kivcet process and plant to process low-grade lead and polymetallic raw materials of complex composition, with high yield production rate of lead bullion and copper matte. This paper is particularly dealing with the description of procedures for start-up preparation and commissioning of KIVCET units, and the description of theoretical and practical training of the Clients personnel and staff as to process, and maintenance operation as well.