8Sumitomo Metal MiningCorporate ProfileThe nickel plant following conversion to the MCLE methodThe Morenci Copper Mine in Arizona, the United States1986Focus on securing resources through equity investments in overseas copper minesIn the 1980s, copper mining operations worldwide suffered as demand and prices stagnated. The copper production industry in Japan smelted ore imported from overseas, necessitating procurement of a stable supply of ore under favorable terms and conditions. SMM devised a policy of securing resources by taking equity stakes in overseas copper mines and in 1986 decided to invest in the Morenci Copper Mine in the United States. SMM subsequently acquired equity stakes in the Candelaria Copper Mine in Chile in 1992 and in the Northparkes Copper Mine in Australia in 1993. Going forward, SMM intends to accelerate global business development, including the securing of resources from around the world.1993Use of the MCLE method to realize high production efficiency and cost competitiveness in nickel productionWhile expanding copper production, in 1933 Sumitomo began development of nickel production technology. SMM pioneered domestic refining of nickel, a metal for which Japan had previously depended on imports, succeeding in producing nickel for the first time at the Shisakajima Islands Smelter in 1936 and commercializing nickel refining in 1939. After changes in the production process implemented to increase production during the period of high economic growth, in 1993 the plant converted to MCLE*, a processing method that offers high production efficiency and cost competitiveness. This production process is highly valued as an excellent wet-smelting technology and remains in use to this day.*MCLE: Matte chlorine leaching electrowinning. Nickel matte and nickel-cobalt mixed sulfide are dissolved in chlorine to produce high-grade nickel by electrolysis.
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