Investment at the Głogów Copper Smelter and Refinery - KGHM has ended the overhaul shutdown

Owned by KGHM, the Głogów I Copper Smelter and Refinery resumed production after a planned intensive maintenance shutdown of almost three months. The overhaul work covered key equipment in the technological line and was scheduled to last 75 days.

Crew on standby, accelerated overhaul

The shutdown began on 11 August, and the work was completed five days ahead of schedule. This was the second major overhaul at the Głogów I Copper Smelter and Refinery following the 2016 upgrade.

- Thanks to the commitment and excellent organisation of the employees of the Głogów smelter and third-party contractors, it was possible to shorten the planned overhaul deadline. The time saved will help to secure the implementation of production plans at a high level. Due to the enormous scale of the project, the overhaul shutdown was a major challenge, requiring not only knowledge and experience, but also very good cooperation and discipline. I would like to thank the crew and employees of third-party companies for the smoothly conducted overhaul - says Jarosław Siedlecki, CEO of the Głogów Copper Smelter and Refinery. 

Scale of the project at the Głogów I Copper Smelter and Refinery 

The overhaul shutdown covered the main process line of the smelter, including Batch Preparation Division P-1, Slurry Furnace Division P-2, and Electric Furnace and Converter Division P-3, as well as the recovery boiler and electrical systems and equipment. During the overhaul, thanks to the accumulation of an adequate supply of anode copper and the production support of the Głogów II Copper Smelter and Refinery , electrolytic copper production continued. Support will also be provided by the Mould and Coffer Foundry Division P-5, which manufactures components for the furnaces undergoing maintenance.

Due to the scale of the project, around 100 third-party companies were involved in the overhaul work at the smelter.

Investment in modernity and safety

As part of the overhaul shutdown, the Głogów I Copper Smelter and Refinery carried out a number of investment tasks that will increase the plant's efficiency. Control systems were updated, the slurry furnace oil firing system was upgraded and the sulphuric acid plant was optimised.

Głogów Copper Smelter and Refinery - figures that are impressive:

• More than 1,000 employees of third-party companies involved in the overhaul
• 850 tonnes of copper used to produce over 1,000 coffers
• Inspection and upgrade of hundreds of computers and thousands of devices in the process line
• Overhaul of approximately 700 electric motors
• Replacement of approximately 20 kilometres of copper pipes
• Replacement of approximately 780 tonnes of refractory materials

A new era of efficiency at the Głogów Copper Smelter and Refinery 

The work performed during the overhaul shutdown will contribute to the optimisation of production processes and the further development of technology at this division of KGHM.