Dowa Mining to Increase Copper Output by 8.3% in 1H

Dowa Mining announced on Tuesday the firm increases the electrolytic copper output by 8.3% to 62,070 tonnes in April-September from same period of 2005. The firm plans a month-long usual maintenance at Kosaka Smelting & refining though the maintenance took 2 months in 2005. The shorter maintenance increases the output. The firm increases the zinc output by 7.1% to 64,068 tonnes in the half year from same period of 2005 due to higher interests in Akita Zinc despite of the less availability of raw materials. The firm reduces the electrolytic lead output by 3.7% to 9,768 tonnes. The firm increases the electrolytic gold output by 9.2% to 6,282 kilogram due to better ore quality and the firm reduces the electrolytic silver output by 2.1% to 276 tonnes. Furukawa announced on Tuesday the firm increases the copper ingot output by 1.2% to 42,700 tonnes in April-September from same period of 2005. The firm also plans to increase the gold output by 32% to 2,260 kg and the firm reduces the silver output by 37% to 9,190 kg.