On 30 June, the world-class super-large lead-zinc smelting production base constructed by MCC5, the Xinjiang Huoshaoyun 600,000-tonne-per-year lead-zinc smelting project, commenced production, laying a solid foundation for the first batch of zinc ingots to roll off the production line in the second half of the year.

The Project is a key engineering project of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, located within the Non-Ferrous Metals Industrial Park of the Kungang Economic and Technological Development Zone in Hotan Prefecture. Covering an area of approximately 1,600 acres, the project will have an annual processing capacity of 2.5 million tonnes of lead-zinc ore upon full production, producing 560,000 tonnes of zinc ingots and 110,000 tonnes of lead ingots annually. The zinc production capacity will rank first in the world. MCC5 has undertaken the construction of the core components of the lead-zinc smelting process, encompassing 22 sub-projects including the volatilisation rotary kiln workshop, leaching workshop, liquid purification workshop, comprehensive recovery facilities, chimneys, and waste heat power plant, covering civil engineering, installation, load testing, and performance evaluation.

Since construction began in March 2024, MCC5 project team has faced harsh natural conditions such as sandstorms, extreme summer heat, and severe winter cold. Leveraging its industry-leading full-chain service advantages, the team has scientifically planned and efficiently organised operations, overcoming challenges such as complex working conditions, shortages of construction resources, and transportation difficulties. By innovating construction techniques and processes, the team has overcome multiple key technical challenges, ensuring the project’s timely completion with its robust capabilities. The project has been awarded honours such as the ‘2024 Annual Engineering Construction Project Safety Standardisation Site’ by the China Nonferrous Metals Construction Association, contributing to national strategic resource security and supporting the ‘strategic hub’ initiative in southern Xinjiang.