Cunext Initiates Plans for Secondary Copper Plant in Spain

Cunext Group, a metals producer based in Córdoba, Spain, has unveiled ambitious plans for a new facility in the city dedicated to the production of 100,000 tons per year of recycled-content copper cathode. The announcement was made at Córdoba City Hall, with Mayor José María Bellido and Cunext CEO Damaso Quintana participating in the ceremony.

The construction of this advanced facility will necessitate an investment of nearly $130 million, positioning Cunext at the forefront of low-carbon copper manufacturing in Spain. The company, self-described as a supplier of copper and aluminum primarily used for transmitting electrical energy, data, and signals, envisions the new plant as crucial for strategic industrial sectors like automotive, especially in electric vehicle manufacturing, transportation, and both conventional and renewable energy industries.

Situated on a 76-acre plot approximately 2.5 miles from an existing Cunext facility, the new plant will focus on producing grade A copper cathodes from recovered materials (scrap), aiming to replace a significant portion of primary copper derived from mining currently used for wire rod manufacturing—an intermediate product in the production of copper goods.

Cunext outlines its commitment to developing a new electrolysis process for manufacturing recycled-content copper rod, capable of producing 100,000 tons per year of grade A cathode initially. This cathode, boasting a copper content of 99.99 percent, will be derived from copper anodes made from recycled materials.

Damaso Quintana emphasizes that the new plant aligns with the company's mission to propel the energy transition by manufacturing high-quality products with minimal carbon footprints. This initiative responds to the increasing demand for sustainable products in sectors with specific needs, such as the automotive industry for electric vehicle manufacturing and renewable energy.

Quintana emphasizes the everlasting recyclability of copper as he mentions that copper possesses an infinite lifespan. He indicates that once extracted from the mine, copper has the ability to be recycled repeatedly without undergoing any loss of its properties.

As part of its broader strategy, Cunext Group is also investing in expanding the copper refining section of its existing facility in Córdoba, with these upgrades expected to be operational later in the year. The anodes produced through this enhanced process will serve as the raw material for the electrolysis process in the new factory, marking a comprehensive growth process that solidifies Cunext Group as a leader in the Spanish and European green copper manufacturing landscape.

Beyond its operations in Córdoba, Cunext Group maintains a presence in other Spanish cities, Italy, and the United States. In the U.S., the company's technology is integral to the Ames Copper operation in North Carolina, a prominent copper scrap-consuming facility in North America.