What was the impact of the December 2023 fire on the Udokan hydrometallurgical plant, and how did it affect the project timeline?

The December 2023 fire broke out in the extraction building of the Udokan hydrometallurgical plant while it was nearing startup and undergoing commissioning, delaying the launch by almost three years. As a result, the project was revised and new equipment had to be sourced from Asia after European suppliers became inaccessible due to sanctions.

What is the current production capacity and purity specification of copper cathodes from the newly launched Udokan plant?

The newly launched hydrometallurgical plant at the Udokan deposit produces refined copper cathodes with a purity of 99.99%, and the site’s total planned capacity is 150,000 tons of copper per year.

Putin Launches Russian Udokan Copper Cathode Plant After 2023 Fire

Sep 2, 2026

Putin officially launched the rebuilt Udokan copper cathode plant in Siberia, targeting 150,000 tons annual capacity following a three-year delay caused by a 2023 fire and sanctions.

bloomberg

2026-09-02

Putin Launches Russian Udokan Copper Cathode Plant After 2023 Fire

Putin Launches Russian Udokan Copper Cathode Plant After 2023 Fire

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