Monday, July 28, 2008
OUR STORY
ABOUT PASAR
The Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation owns and operates the only copper smelter and refinery in the Philippines.Formed in 1976, the company actively pursued the construction of the plant in Leyte which was completed in 1983 to signal the Philippine Government's industrialization plans for the country. PASAR's primary product is electrolytic copper cathodes, the raw material used for manufacturing various kinds of electric cables, telecommunication wires, copper shapes and copper-alloy products. The PASAR Copper Cathode is registered as Grade A Copper in the London Metal Exchange (LME) and as COMEX High Grade Copper in the Commodity Exchange (COMEX) Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). It is also listed in the Shanghai Futures Exchange.
The location of PASAR copper smelter and refinery in Leyte in the central Philippines has resulted in many advantages for the company and its partners. The port possesses a deep-harbor facility which is being reconstructed to berth and handle vessels up to 50,000 DWT. It lies in the center of the Philippine archipelago, ready to serve the smelting needs of the country's reviving mining industry.
PASAR's strategic location in the Asia Pacific Rim allows access to copper concentrates supplies from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. It also has access to the huge refined copper markets of China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Japan.The complex includes pollution abatement facilities; port and bulk handling facilities; an airstrip; a medical facility; and housing, recreation and educational facilities for company personnel and their dependentsPASAR's strategic location in the Asia Pacific Rim allows access to copper concentrates supplies from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. It also has access to the huge refined copper markets of China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Japan.The complex includes pollution abatement facilities; port and bulk handling facilities; an airstrip; a medical facility; and housing, recreation and educational facilities for company personnel and their dependents.
The location of PASAR copper smelter and refinery in Leyte in the central Philippines has resulted in many advantages for the company and its partners. The port possesses a deep-harbor facility which is being reconstructed to berth and handle vessels up to 50,000 DWT. It lies in the center of the Philippine archipelago, ready to serve the smelting needs of the country's reviving mining industry.
PASAR's strategic location in the Asia Pacific Rim allows access to copper concentrates supplies from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. It also has access to the huge refined copper markets of China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Japan.The complex includes pollution abatement facilities; port and bulk handling facilities; an airstrip; a medical facility; and housing, recreation and educational facilities for company personnel and their dependentsPASAR's strategic location in the Asia Pacific Rim allows access to copper concentrates supplies from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. It also has access to the huge refined copper markets of China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Japan.The complex includes pollution abatement facilities; port and bulk handling facilities; an airstrip; a medical facility; and housing, recreation and educational facilities for company personnel and their dependents.
Our History
The Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation was wrought from the presence of abundant copper resources in the Philippines. Formed in 1976 by the Philippine Government, PASAR was the first of eleven major industrial projects intended to pave the way for the country's industrialization. The original incorporators of PASAR were the Government through the National Development Company (42%), a consortium of the Philippine copper mining companies (22%), the World Bank through the International Finance Corporation (5%) and a consortium of Japanese trading companies made up of Marubeni, Sumitomo and C. Itoh (31%).The PASAR plant complex occupies 80 hectares in the 424-hectare Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE). Completed in 1983 at the cost of US$300 million with the capacity to produce 138,000 metric tonnes of Grade A electrolytic copper cathodes annually, it was expanded in 1993 to its current production capacity of 172,500 metric tonnes per year.In June 1999, a consortium of Philippine investors and Swiss trader, Glencore International AG, procured 90% of the Philippine Government's shareholding and its receivables from PASAR. This acquisition was carried out as part of the country's privatization program, thus, transforming the company into a privately-owned corporation.Subsequently, the shares owned by the Japanese consortium were sold to a privately-held company.Now, the capacity of the smelter has been expanded to 720,000 mtpy of concentrates in 2006, and the refinery will be expanded to 215,000 mtpy of cathodes by mid-2007.
Our Management
Angel Veloso, Jr. Louis Els
President & CEO
Chairman
our location
The executive office of PASAR is located in Philamlife Tower along Paseo de Roxas in Makati City, a bustling cosmopolitan city, within Metro Manila.
Continued rapid growth over the past years has made Makati the commercial, communication and financial center of the Philippines where trendy boutiques, fashionable restaurants and department stores mingle with banks, cor
The copper smelter and refinery plant can be found in picturesque Isabel, Leyte, which can be reached by air, land and sea transport.
porate head offices and embassies. Makati is bounded on the north by the Pasig River facing the City of Mandaluyong, on the east by the Municipality of Pateros, on the northwest by the City of Manila, and on the south and southwest by the City of Pasay. It is one of the 12 cities of the National Capital Region. It is a short drive from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Manila Domestic Airport.
The copper smelter and refinery plant can be found in picturesque Isabel, Leyte, which can be reached by air, land and sea transport.
Air travel time from Manila to Leyte province is approximately one hour via Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte's major airport which is the main gateway by air to other cities and provinces of the Eastern Visayas Region. Commercial flights are available to and from Manila and Tacloban. It takes two and a half hours to reach Isabel from Tacloban by land. Leyte can also be reached from Cebu City which is an hour's flight from Manila. With the emergence of the inter-island fast ferries, Leyte can be reached in two hours via Ormoc City from Cebu. From Ormoc, it takes only 45 minutes to isabel by car.
The copper smelter and refinery plant can be found in picturesque Isabel, Leyte, which can be reached by air, land and sea transport.
Air travel time from Manila to Leyte province is approximately one hour via Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte's major airport which is the main gateway by air to other cities and provinces of the Eastern Visayas Region. Commercial flights are available to and from Manila and Tacloban. It takes two and a half hours to reach Isabel from Tacloban by land. Leyte can also be reached from Cebu City which is an hour's flight from Manila. With the emergence of the inter-island fast ferries, Leyte can be reached in two hours via Ormoc City from Cebu. From Ormoc, it takes only 45 minutes to isabel by car.
OUR PRODUCT
PASAR's primary product is electrolytic copper cathode.
The copper cathodes produced by PASAR are of 99.99% purity and meet international standards, notably the British Standard (BS EN 1978:1998 cathode designation Cu-CATH-1) and the American Society for Testing and Materials Standard (ASTM B115).
The PASAR Brand copper cathode is registered as Grade A Copper in the London Metal Exchange (LME) and as COMEX High Grade Copper in the Commodity Exchange (COMEX) Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). It is also listed in the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE). Noted for their high level of purity, copper cathodes are shipped mainly to China, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and the domestic market.
Copper cathodes are consumed principally by wire and brass mills, where cathodes are re-melted, poured and cast into wire rod, billets, cakes or ingots, generally as pure copper or alloyed with other metals. These copper and copper alloy semis, such as wire, rod, tube, plate, sheet, and strip, find their way in applications ranging from building constructions and industrial equipment to transportation, telecommunications, power transmission, consumer electronics, and other high-tech products. Alloyed with other elements, copper is transformed into compounds, such as brass, bronze, and cupro-nickels.
PASAR also produces doré, an alloy containing approximately 25% gold and 75% silver, used mainly for jewelry and electronics; sulfuric acid for the manufacture of chemical fertilizers; selenium for the textile, glass and photocopying industries; slag for shipbuilding and similar industries; iron concentrates and gypsum for cement manufacture.
Electrolytic Copper Cathode
The electrolytic copper cathode of PASAR meets the specifications set by the British Standards Institution (BS EN 1978:1998 cathode designation Cu-CATH-1) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM B115).
The PASAR copper brand is registered with the London Metal Exchange (LME), the Commodity Exchange (COMEX) in New York, and in the Shanghai Futures Exchange.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Typical Chemical Analysis
CopperArsenicAntimonyBismuthIronLeadSeleniumSilverSulfurTelluriumZinc
99.99+%<>Typical Physical Dimension
Weight per piece
Size of Cathode
Number of pieces in a cathode bundle
Weight of a cathode bundle
Size of a cathode bundle
90 - 120 kg
1m x 1 m x 10 mm
22 or 23 pieces
2.1 - 2.6 MT
1m x 1m x 0.50m
Refined Copper Anode
Refined copper anodes (99.5%) are cast by PASAR's smelter to meet the requirements of its own refinery. While the anode dimensions can be changed to suit the needs of other refineries, PASAR generally uses all its anodes in the production of cathodes by its own refinery.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Typical Chemical Analysis
CopperGoldSilverArsenicAntimonyBismuthIron
99.5%40 - 60 ppm210 - 310 ppm400 - 800 ppm180 - 300 ppm30 - 70 ppm20 - 50 ppm
Lead
NickelSeleniumSufurTelluriumZincOxygen
600 - 1,000 ppm
60 - 120 ppm450 - 650 ppm50 - 80 ppm100 - 250 ppm5 - 10 ppm0.1 - 0.2%
Typical Physical Dimension
Weight per piece
Size of anode body (l x w x h)
Number of pieces in an anode bundle
Weight of an anode bundle
Size of an anode bundle
345 kg +/- 3 kg
0.98 m x 0.96 m x 40 mm
10 pieces
2.1 - 2.6 MT
1.25 m x 1.35 m x 0.5 m
Doré Metal
Doré metal contains the precious metals recovered by the refinery. It is an alloy of gold and silver, and is cast in ingot form. Its gold content ranges from 15% to 30% and silver from 68% to 83%. It also contains about 0.025% platinum and 0.22 to 0.3% palladium.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Typical Chemical Analysis
GoldSilverCopperTelluriumBismuth
15 - 30 %68 - 83 %1 %500 ppm400 ppm
Typical Physical Dimension
Cast form
Weight per ingot
Ingot
28 to 32 kg
OUR PROCESS
The design of the plant was patterned after Japan's Tamano smelter and refinery plant, considered as one of the world's most efficiently-run smelters. The flash smelting process developed by Outokumpu Oy of Finland and modified by the Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company, was adopted for more flexibility in processing different grades of copper concentrate, high recovery of sulfur, and reduced power and oil consumption.
Copper concentrate, the basic feedstock undergoes a smelting and refining process in which impurities are removed and refined copper is extracted. Precious metals and other byproducts are also recovered in the process.
PASAR has expanded its smelter capacity to 720,000 mtpy of concentrates in early 2006. In May 2007, PASAR will complete a brownfield conversion from conventional starting sheet electrorefining to ISA process. Refinery capacity will be increased from 172,500 mtpy to 215,000 mtpy of coppr cathodes.
Copper concentrate, the basic feedstock undergoes a smelting and refining process in which impurities are removed and refined copper is extracted. Precious metals and other byproducts are also recovered in the process.
PASAR has expanded its smelter capacity to 720,000 mtpy of concentrates in early 2006. In May 2007, PASAR will complete a brownfield conversion from conventional starting sheet electrorefining to ISA process. Refinery capacity will be increased from 172,500 mtpy to 215,000 mtpy of coppr cathodes.
SMELTING PROCESS
Copper concentrates of various grades from all over the world are unloaded by a luffing crane and transferred to the concentrate storage house via the conveyor belt. These concentrates are laid into beds in the blending house. Silica sand, coke, coal and slag concentrate are added to the blended copper concentrates before resulting mixture is fed into the flash dryer to remove moisture.
The dry blended concentrates together with preheated oxygen-enriched air are fed into the flash smelting furnace with electrodes (FSFE) through a single jet burner.
In the FSFE, oxygen reacts with iron and sulfur to form oxides. Excess iron combines with oxygen and silica to form molten slag, while sulfur oxidizes and exits through the uptake to the acid plant for sulfuric acid production.
Untreated iron and copper remain as sulfides and form a heavier molten material called matte which collects at the bottom of the furnace, while slag containing most of the oxidized impurities floats on top. The molten slag is skimmed off, granulated with seawater, and hauled to the granulated slag stockpile.
The matte which contains 55-60% copper is tapped into a ladle and fed to the converter furnaces for further upgrading into blister copper, which contains 98-99% copper. It also contains precious metals such as gold and silver and minute amounts of impurities.
From the converter furnace (CF), blister copper is transferred by ladle to the anode refining furnace. The resulting fire-refined copper is cast into anodes which contain 99.5% copper, by a 28-mold Outukumpu Oy (OKO) casting wheel at the rate of 90 tons per hour.
The solidified anodes are cast for use as starting sheet anodes or commercial anodes before these are transferred to the refinery tank house for electrolytic refining. The smelter processes 720,000 mtpy of concentrates. Integral to the process is pollution abatement, such that gases containing sulfur oxide - generated in the FSFE and CF - pass through the gas ducts to the waste heat boiler, electrostatic precipitator, and acid plant for conversion into sulfuric acid. Waste acid from the acid plant is treated in a neutralization plant to produce gypsum.
The dry blended concentrates together with preheated oxygen-enriched air are fed into the flash smelting furnace with electrodes (FSFE) through a single jet burner.
In the FSFE, oxygen reacts with iron and sulfur to form oxides. Excess iron combines with oxygen and silica to form molten slag, while sulfur oxidizes and exits through the uptake to the acid plant for sulfuric acid production.
Untreated iron and copper remain as sulfides and form a heavier molten material called matte which collects at the bottom of the furnace, while slag containing most of the oxidized impurities floats on top. The molten slag is skimmed off, granulated with seawater, and hauled to the granulated slag stockpile.
The matte which contains 55-60% copper is tapped into a ladle and fed to the converter furnaces for further upgrading into blister copper, which contains 98-99% copper. It also contains precious metals such as gold and silver and minute amounts of impurities.
From the converter furnace (CF), blister copper is transferred by ladle to the anode refining furnace. The resulting fire-refined copper is cast into anodes which contain 99.5% copper, by a 28-mold Outukumpu Oy (OKO) casting wheel at the rate of 90 tons per hour.
The solidified anodes are cast for use as starting sheet anodes or commercial anodes before these are transferred to the refinery tank house for electrolytic refining. The smelter processes 720,000 mtpy of concentrates. Integral to the process is pollution abatement, such that gases containing sulfur oxide - generated in the FSFE and CF - pass through the gas ducts to the waste heat boiler, electrostatic precipitator, and acid plant for conversion into sulfuric acid. Waste acid from the acid plant is treated in a neutralization plant to produce gypsum.
REFINING PROCESS
PASAR uses the conventional starting sheet technology in its refinery. Refined copper anodes are suspended in-between thin copper starting sheets inside electrolytic cells. These electrolytic cells are filled with electrolytic solution consisting of copper sulfate and sulfuric acid. Electric current is passed through the poles of the anode starting sheet circuit.
The direct electric current causes the copper molecules in the anodes to dissolve, ionize, and migrate through the electrolyte solution and deposit as copper molecules onto the starting sheets. Copper deposition continues until the starting sheet thickens into a full-grown cathode with 99.99+% copper purity. This process takes anywhere from 6 to 7 days, depending on the refinery's cycle, current density and efficiency.
The electrolyte solution used during the refining process is decopperized through an electrowinning or reverse electrolysis process. The purified electrolyte solution is recycled back into the system. Recovered copper is fed back into the CF at the smelter.
During the refining process, the insoluble metals in the anodes, such as gold, silver, selenium, and tellurium, settle at the bottom of electrolytic cells. This precipitate called slimes is sent to a leaching tank where copper is recovered. The recovered copper is fed back into the CF, while the decopperized slime is processed into doré metal and selenium powder.
The direct electric current causes the copper molecules in the anodes to dissolve, ionize, and migrate through the electrolyte solution and deposit as copper molecules onto the starting sheets. Copper deposition continues until the starting sheet thickens into a full-grown cathode with 99.99+% copper purity. This process takes anywhere from 6 to 7 days, depending on the refinery's cycle, current density and efficiency.
The electrolyte solution used during the refining process is decopperized through an electrowinning or reverse electrolysis process. The purified electrolyte solution is recycled back into the system. Recovered copper is fed back into the CF at the smelter.
During the refining process, the insoluble metals in the anodes, such as gold, silver, selenium, and tellurium, settle at the bottom of electrolytic cells. This precipitate called slimes is sent to a leaching tank where copper is recovered. The recovered copper is fed back into the CF, while the decopperized slime is processed into doré metal and selenium powder.
RAW MATERIAL SUPPLY
PASAR sourced all its copper concentrates requirements from copper mines in the Philippines during its first few years of operation. However, in 1987, PASAR began diversifying its sources of raw material not only to ensure a continuous supply but also to achieve the correct concentrate blend required for more efficient processing operations.
Today, PASAR's copper concentrates are supplied by large mines in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. PASAR continues to purchase copper concentrates from some Philippine mines as available.
Today, PASAR's copper concentrates are supplied by large mines in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. PASAR continues to purchase copper concentrates from some Philippine mines as available.
OUR COMMITMENT
True to its mission of improving people's lives, PASAR is mindful of its role not only as a responsible employer to its associates, but also as a responsible member of the Isabel, Leyte community and as a responsible corporate citizen of the Philippines
Human Resources:
PASAR recognizes that its most valuable asset is people. PASAR has therefore made significant investment in human resource development.
Formal and non-formal, as well as in-house and outsourced training programs are consistently designed and undertaken to upgrade the technical expertise and enhance the managerial skills of all PASAR associates. One third of PASAR associates have been accredited by the Technical Educational Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the government institution mandated to assess and accredit vocational skills levels of its work force.
In addition to improving its associates' technical and managerial skills, PASAR also addresses the motivational aspect of human resource development through a series of team-building workshops and seminars that span the entire breadth and depth of PASAR, from its Chairman and the President to the rank-and-file employee. The initial positive gains from these team-building exercises are already evident in the enhancement of productivity, plant safety, and team work.
Environmental Protection:
PASAR's goal of improving people's lives is anchored on its ability not only to protect but also to improve the environment.
The company has not stopped with standard pollution abatement measures, such as the operation of electrostatic precipitators, fugitive gas collection systems, and wastewater treatment facilities. PASAR has taken a more proactive stance to clearly express its commitment to environmental enhancement. PASAR has established a nursery which produces seedlings for the reforestation of its own plant site, of the LIDE (Leyte Industrial Development Estate), and of Isabel, and other neighboring municipalities.
In cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Development Company, PASAR has established a fish sanctuary with artificial reefs. PASAR also built a 450-meter dike enclosure to protect the mangroves in the beach area surrounding the plant complex.
Community Relations:
PASAR is committed to the social and economic development of the communities around its plant.
With a regular workforce of over 1000 people, PASAR is the biggest employer in the municipality of Isabel. The company has been instrumental in the rapid development of infrastructure, health, communications, electricity, water and educational services in Leyte. PASAR operations have also encouraged the establishment and growth of ancillary service businesses around the plant.
PASAR has a regular medical outreach program which provides free medical consultation and medicine. The company also sponsors various livelihood, health care, public service, cultural, sports and educational activities which have benefited thousands of residents of Isabel and other neighboring towns.
In May 2005, the PASAR Foundation, Inc. (PFI) was launched with people empowerment as its goal. Following the saying "Feed a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime," PFI focuses on sustainable development programs designed to teach people how to help themselves.
Human Resources:
PASAR recognizes that its most valuable asset is people. PASAR has therefore made significant investment in human resource development.
Formal and non-formal, as well as in-house and outsourced training programs are consistently designed and undertaken to upgrade the technical expertise and enhance the managerial skills of all PASAR associates. One third of PASAR associates have been accredited by the Technical Educational Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the government institution mandated to assess and accredit vocational skills levels of its work force.
In addition to improving its associates' technical and managerial skills, PASAR also addresses the motivational aspect of human resource development through a series of team-building workshops and seminars that span the entire breadth and depth of PASAR, from its Chairman and the President to the rank-and-file employee. The initial positive gains from these team-building exercises are already evident in the enhancement of productivity, plant safety, and team work.
Environmental Protection:
PASAR's goal of improving people's lives is anchored on its ability not only to protect but also to improve the environment.
The company has not stopped with standard pollution abatement measures, such as the operation of electrostatic precipitators, fugitive gas collection systems, and wastewater treatment facilities. PASAR has taken a more proactive stance to clearly express its commitment to environmental enhancement. PASAR has established a nursery which produces seedlings for the reforestation of its own plant site, of the LIDE (Leyte Industrial Development Estate), and of Isabel, and other neighboring municipalities.
In cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Development Company, PASAR has established a fish sanctuary with artificial reefs. PASAR also built a 450-meter dike enclosure to protect the mangroves in the beach area surrounding the plant complex.
Community Relations:
PASAR is committed to the social and economic development of the communities around its plant.
With a regular workforce of over 1000 people, PASAR is the biggest employer in the municipality of Isabel. The company has been instrumental in the rapid development of infrastructure, health, communications, electricity, water and educational services in Leyte. PASAR operations have also encouraged the establishment and growth of ancillary service businesses around the plant.
PASAR has a regular medical outreach program which provides free medical consultation and medicine. The company also sponsors various livelihood, health care, public service, cultural, sports and educational activities which have benefited thousands of residents of Isabel and other neighboring towns.
In May 2005, the PASAR Foundation, Inc. (PFI) was launched with people empowerment as its goal. Following the saying "Feed a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime," PFI focuses on sustainable development programs designed to teach people how to help themselves.
PRESS RELEASES
PASAR to raise copper capacity by 25%
Released: May 20, 2005
SWISS-based commodity trader and producer Glencore International AG will invest $53 million to expand capacity at PASAR’s copper cathode refinery by 25 percent. The Philippine company said yesterday...read more.
The good corporate citizen of Leyte on its 21st year
Released: May 24, 2004
"We will continue to be instrumental in its progress for as long as the company operates the copper and refinery complex," PASAR President Bruce Anderson said...read more.
As private enterprise: A new era for the country's only copper smelter refinery
Released: November 24, 2003
After more than 20 years in the hands of the government, the country's only copper smelter and refinery located at the Leyte Industrial and Development Estate in Isabel, Leyte has gotten a new lease in life...read more.
...more news to come.
Released: May 20, 2005
SWISS-based commodity trader and producer Glencore International AG will invest $53 million to expand capacity at PASAR’s copper cathode refinery by 25 percent. The Philippine company said yesterday...read more.
The good corporate citizen of Leyte on its 21st year
Released: May 24, 2004
"We will continue to be instrumental in its progress for as long as the company operates the copper and refinery complex," PASAR President Bruce Anderson said...read more.
As private enterprise: A new era for the country's only copper smelter refinery
Released: November 24, 2003
After more than 20 years in the hands of the government, the country's only copper smelter and refinery located at the Leyte Industrial and Development Estate in Isabel, Leyte has gotten a new lease in life...read more.
...more news to come.
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