"A-Tec" to expand copper units in Europe

(Mirko Kovač)

After unsuccessful expansion to Germany and Serbia, Austrian concern "A-Tec", which does not give up the copper business, plans to expand copper processing units in Austria and Slovakia.

- We are thinking about doubling producton in our two copper processing units in Brixlegg (Austria) and in Krompači (Slovakia) - the Head of "A-Tec", Mirko Kovač, said in the interview for Austrian newspaper agency APA.

He announced that the electrolysis unit in Brixlegg, of which capacities had already been enlarged in mid-2007, would be the first to be expanded.

- However, the new copper smelter will be put into operation in Slovakia in the following weeks - he added.

The capacity of Brixlegg should be increased by additional 50%, to 162,000 tons of copper catodes per year.

- We hope that we will adopt that decision at the next meeting of the administrative board - said Kovač, adding that the further step, within next two years, would be construction of additional electrolysis capacities in Slovakia.

- In that case, we would have copper production in amount of 200,000 tons within next three years - said Kovač and pointed out that, after unsuccessful takeover of RTB "Bor", "A-Tec" had no bigger plans for acquisitions in the near future.