Pasar to hike production of refined copper

The Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp. (PASAR) is boosting its production of cathode or refined copper for this year.

PASAR’s cathode or refined copper production this year is projected to hit 168,533 metric tons, a 16.7 percent increase from last year’s 144,395 metric tons.

On the other hand, PASAR expects its anode or unrefined copper recovery to grow by 43.3 percent to 222,441 metric tons at the end of this year from 155,195 metric tons last year.

Dore metal (which is actually gold and silver ore) production is also seen to increase by 7.9 percent to 51,048 kilograms from 47,310 kilograms last year.

As of end-June this year, PASAR has produced 112,935 metric tons of anode copper; 91,781 metric tons of new fine copper; 246,876 metric tons of sulfuric acid; 81,850 metric tons of cathode copper and 25,314 kilograms of dore metals.

PASAR president Javier Herrero said the increased production is due to improved operational efficiency.

PASAR’s sprawling 80 hectare copper smelter and refinery complex is located at the Leyte Industrial and Development Estate in Isabel, Leyte.

PASAR, the country’s only copper smelting and refining firm, is majority-owned by a consortium comprise of Swiss-based Glencore International and Local Investors.

The consortium acquired 90 percent of the former government-owned PASAR in June 1999.

The Glencore-led consortium has, so far, infused a total of $50 million or about P2.6 billion in PASAR.

It has also announced plans to invest another P800 million to increase PASAR’s refining capacity by another 31,500 metric tons per year to 200,000 metric tons per year from the current capacity of only 168,500 metric tons per year.

"PASAR’s current refining capacity results in excess anode copper production which has to be sold to other smelters and refineries," Herrero said.