Solvay confirmed expansion plans for its Mount Pleasant, Tenn., facility in December that will increase copper solvent extraction (SX) product capacity by about 20%.
The company said the copper market is projected to surge over the next 10 years from a number of end-use industries, which has led to growing demand from mining operations for its ACORGA and ACORGA OPT products.
“This expansion offers greater security of supply for our customers as demand for our products grows,” said Matthew Davis, global business director for Mineral Processing and Metal Extraction Products, who also noted that its investment comes as the company’s SX business continues to expand in all regions.
Solvay expects the new capacity, which expands on existing assets, to be commissioned by the end of next year.
Solvay cited Fastmarkets MB with the data that global refined copper demand for EVs will rise by 21% per year until 2030, reaching around 2.5 million tons that year.