A copper mine joint venture between Metallurgical Corp of China (MCC) and Jiangxi Copper in Afghanistan is expected to start production of copper concentrates in 2013, an executive at MCC Tongsin Resources Ltd said on Wednesday.


The first phase of the Aynak copper mining project would have a designed capacity of 200,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate, said Zeng Tao, sales manager of the copper and zinc unit of Hong Kong-listed MCC.


He said capacity would be expanded to 500,000 tonnes in the second phase but did not provide a timeframe for completion. MCC was also considering building a smelter at the site, he added.


The Aynak project in Afghanistan is 75 percent owned by MCC and 25 percent by Jiangxi Copper, China's top copper producer.

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