Copper concentrate production at Russia’s largest untapped copper mine Udokan started with an official ceremony, according to local media reports on Monday.
Around 150,000 tons of copper will be processed in the form of copper cathode and concentrate at the plant located in the country’s eastern Siberia region.
As the largest copper reserve in Russia and the third largest in the world, Udokan has approximately 26.7 million tons of reserves.
First discovered in 1949 by geologists exploring uranium in Russia’s Zabaykalsky Krai region in Siberia, the mine could not be developed for more than 70 years.
Known as the metal of the future, copper is one of the most important metals in the world and used in various fields including automobiles, computers, food processors and heavy industry production.
It plays a key role in renewable energy production projects, especially solar panels and wind turbines.
