Mine Engineering

CINF Engineering Co., Ltd. (referred to as “CINF” for short) was officially established in 1953. As a national high-tech enterprise, a national technology innovation demonstration enterprise, and a national enterprise technology center, it is one of the earliest large-scale comprehensive design and research institutions established in China. It is subordinate to China Aluminum Group Co., Ltd. and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation Limited.

In 1954, CINF was relocated from Ganzhou to Changsha and successively affiliated to the Ministry of Heavy Industry, the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, China National Nonferrous Metals Industry Corporation, the State Bureau of Nonferrous Metals Industry, and China Rare Earth Group. In July 2000, it was delegated by the central government to Hunan Province for management, and in June 2007, it joined Aluminum Corporation of China. In March 2011, CINF was restructured into a one-person limited liability company funded by China Aluminum International Corporation Limited (“Chalieco” for short), and its name was changed to "CINF Engineering Co., Ltd.". In March 2015, Chinalco International transferred Shandong Construction (later renamed Chalieco Southern Engineering Co., Ltd.) to CINF. In March 2024, Chalieco transferred CKY(China Nonferrous Metals Changsha Survey and Design Research Institute Co., Ltd.) to CINF.

After more than 70 years of committed and effective governance, CINF has developed into a technology and service provider for the entire industrial chain of the nonferrous metals industry and the full life-cycle of projects. It holds 11 first-class qualifications, including those in the metallurgical industry, municipal industry (drainage engineering, thermal engineering, passenger ropeway engineering) professional, architectural industry (building engineering) professional, chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industry (chemical engineering) professional, environmental engineering design special (water pollution control engineering, air pollution control engineering, solid waste treatment and disposal engineering), comprehensive engineering investigation, surveying and mapping, geological disaster control engineering investigation, geological disaster control engineering design, geological disaster control engineering construction, and geological disaster assessment. Its business areas cover engineering consulting, design, general contracting, supervision, investigation, surveying and mapping, inspection and testing, construction, environmental governance, ecological restoration, equipment manufacturing, scientific research and technological development, etc.

CINF has strong technical strength, with over 1,200 registered employees, including more than 900 professional and technical personnel. Among them are 1 National Engineering Survey and Design Master, 10 National Nonferrous Metals Industry Survey and Design Masters, 1 Leading Talent in Scientific and Technological Innovation of Hunan Province, 12 Outstanding Young Engineering Survey and Designers of Hunan Province, 3 Chief Engineers of Aluminum Corporation of China, 2 experts enjoying special government allowances from the State Council, 478 senior professional titles (including 67 senior chief engineers), and 474 national registered engineers of various types.

Since its establishment for over 70 years, CINF has achieved fruitful results in the field of design and research, providing technical services to more than 40 countries, completing over 10,000 engineering consulting and design projects of various types, including thousands of national large and medium-sized key construction projects. It has won more than 1,300 national, provincial, and ministerial science and technology progress awards and excellent engineering design and consulting awards, and holds more than 500 valid patents. It has formed a number of core technologies with independent intellectual property rights, maintaining an internationally leading position in mining, metallurgy, and environmental protection. In particular, its independently developed "high, deep, and difficult" mine mining and beneficiation technologies, and innovative green metallurgical technologies such as oxygen pressure leaching, CSCC bath smelting, and flash smelting, have provided strong technical support for China to build a mining power and promote the development of the nonferrous metal smelting industry. CINF has established a high-level and multi-layered scientific and technological innovation platform system composed of 3 national-level innovation platforms, 9 provincial-level innovation platforms, and multiple pilot bases. It serves as a leader in advanced technologies in the mining engineering field, a driver of scientific and technological progress in the nonferrous metallurgy industry, a pioneer in industrial iteration of rare earths, a vital force in full lifecycle services for new energy materials, and a pacesetter in the comprehensive engineering construction field. With good corporate credit and reputation, it has been awarded the "AAA Credit Enterprise" title, recognized as an "Outstanding Survey and Design Enterprise" in the national survey and design industry during the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and consecutively rated as a "Top 100 Enterprise" by the China Engineering Project Management Joint Network for many years.

Facing the new economic situation and competitive environment, CINF will uphold the philosophy of innovation-driven development, integrity-based service, and continuous value creation for customers, striving to become an innovative leading enterprise in the nonferrous metals industry.

The Model Mine of China-Mongolia Cooperation— Tumurtin-Ovoo Zinc Mine in Mongolia

The high altitude and cold mine is the first mine built by China in Mongolia. It has achieved remarkable economic, environmental and social benefits after putting into operation, and is a model mine of China-Mongolia cooperation. The project won the Silver Award for National Excellent Engineering Design, and the China Construction Engineering Luban Prize (overseas project).

Boffa Bauxite Mine in Guinea

It is the "No.1 Project" to build an overseas bauxite base for CHINALCO's strategy. The efficient green mining technology for low-latitude eluvial bauxite has been developed for the first time. The design capacity is 35000kt/a, including 15000kt/a for Phase I and 20000kt/a for Phase II. The design adopts the environmental-friendly on-blasting continuous mining process integrating mining, crushing and loading, 24km high-speed cross-country belt conveying technology with large transportation capacity, 700,000~2,000,000 tons terminal yard and ‌stacker-reclaimer system, and heavy oil power station, power transformation and distribution system, and transmission system achieving isolated grid power self-sufficiency. The project won the first batch of National Quality Engineering Awards (overseas project).

Toromocho Copper Mine in Peru

Toromocho Copper Mine is located in the central part of Peru, with an elevation of 4500~5000m. It is a super-large porphyry copper mine with extremely complex ore properties, open pit mining, SABC + flotation process, the production capacity of 170kt/d. It is the first world-class copper mine built overseas by China.

The project has become a model of "social respect, employee pride, excellent benefits and environmental friendliness" in Peru, creating a successful typical case of China's overseas investment.

The First Underground Mine in Eritrea—Koka Gold Mine

Koka Gold Mine is located in Eritrea, east Africa, under a seasonal river. The problems such as complex engineering geological and hydrogeological conditions, and poor external construction conditions have been overcome, realizing open-pit mining to underground mining, with a design capacity of 660kt/a. The project has played a key leading role in promoting the development of mining industry in Eritrea.

Cao Bang Nickel-Copper Mine in Vietnam

Cao Bang Nickel-Copper Mine is located in Cao Bang Province, Vietnam, with open-pit mining, and a design capacity of 3000t/d. The ore body has a wide distribution range and low grade, which belongs to refractory copper-nickel sulfide ore rich in magnesium silicate minerals. By utilizing advanced mining software for multi-approach and multi-scenario technical analysis and comparison, a new efficient flotation process for copper-nickel sulfide ore was developed, striving to the fullest to maximize the project benefits.

Senmonorom Bauxite Mine in Cambodia

Senmonorom Bauxite Mine is located in Mondulkiri, Cambodia, with open-pit mining, the ROM ore mining capacity of 22000kt/a and washed ore capacity of 10000kt/a. By using large-scale mechanized non-blasting continuous and efficient intelligent mining technology, combined with three-stage ore washing process including two-stage large trommel screen + one-stage linear screen, and modular design of plant buildings, electrical and water supply & drainage, the construction period for overseas project has been significantly shortened.

Lithium Extraction Project with Output of 50,000t/a (LCE) Lithium Chloride from Salt Lake in Argentina 

The project is located in Salta Province, Argentine, the "lithium triangle" of South America. The mining depth of the aquifer in the brine extraction area reaches 300m. 72 brine extraction wells are used, and the annual brine extraction and transportation capacity reaches 23,000,000m3. The project was completed and put into operation in 2023.

Mining Engineering of 6000kt/a Mining and Processing Upgrading and Expansion Project of Tajik-China Mining Co., Ltd.

The project is located in Khujand, Sughd Province, Tajikistan. The design adheres to the concept of ‌sustainable, stable and high-quality development, integrates new productivity to eliminate safety risks in the existing production system and solve critical problems. By pioneering a ‌scaled, intensive mining model‌ featuring centralized transportation and series development in multiple mining areas, the project has created strong profitability for the enterprise.

The project is a benchmark for China-invested enterprises to successfully invest in countries along the "Belt and Road" under the "Belt and Road" initiative, and a model of mutual benefit and win-win in China-Tajikistan cooperation.

Overall Development Planning Study and Design for TFM Copper-Cobalt Mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The TFM copper-cobalt mine is located in Fungurume Town, Kolwezi City, Lualaba Province, DRC. The mine is in production with copper output of 450,000t/a and cobalt output of 38,000t/a. It is currently one of the top 10 copper mines in the world and the second largest cobalt mine in the world.

In view of the resource advantages of ‌CMOC Group Limited‌'s TFM copper-cobalt mine in the DRC, CINF is currently conducting the overall development planning study and design for the mine, optimizing the existing open-pit mining, processing and metallurgical system, adding underground mining and supporting processing and metallurgical facilities. Within 3 to 5 years after the implementation of the planning project, the TFM copper-cobalt mine can achieve the target of cathode copper output of 650,000 to 800,000 tons/year, achieve a total industrial output value of over 10 billion US dollars/year, and create more than 3,000 related jobs. The economic and social benefits are significant.

Mining Operation and Concentrator of Tibet Qulong Copper Complex Mine

The project design capacity is 150kt/d and the maximum elevation of the open pit is 5560m. It is currently the world outsize copper complex mine with the highest elevation.

Tibet Jiama Copper Complex Mine (Phase Ⅰ)

The project was put into production in July, 2010, with the capacity of 6000t/d. It is China first and world advanced, large environmental-friendly modernized mine in the plateau   above 5000m elevation, it is one of the Pilot Units of the National Environmental-friendly Mine. It’s a monumental work of China mining industry on Tibet Plateau.

Tibet Jiama Copper Complex Mine (Phase Ⅱ)

The project was put into operation in Aug., 2014, with the capacity of 40kt/d. The concentrator average elevation is 4600m. It is the China first ultra-large nonferrous metal concentrator built at one go.

Mongolia Turmutin-Ovoo Zinc Mine Project

It is located in high-elevation cold area in Mongolia with significant economic, environmental and social benefit. It’s a model of cooperation between China and Mongolia.

Tibet Zhibula CopperComplex Mine

The project was put into production in 2016, with the capacity of 4000t/d. The highest elevation of the open pit is 5500m and the concentrator elevation is 4400m. It is China first high elevation open-pit mining operation which can be converted to the underground mining operation in future. The ROM ore is conveyed by the 11.43km-long downward belt conveyer to the concentrator.

Chihong Huize Lead-Zinc Mine

China’s deepest shaft with the depth of 1526.5m has been designed and constructed here. The integrated technology of active pressure relief and flexible and rigid support for ultra-deep shaft wall lining is innovatively developed. CINF is the first in China to design the     ultra-deep combined shaft skip hoisting system with the hoisting technology of multiple-spot loading and unloading of multiple materials. The highest lifting speed (14m/s) of the rigid cage guide is created up to the international leading level. The mine is one of the pilot units of national environmental-friendly mines.

Xinjiang AsheleCopper Mine

The project is based on the main and auxiliary shaft development.   The main shaft lifting capacity is 10000 t/d, the ultra- deep (over 1000m) shaft was designed and built with the China fastest main shaft lifting speed of 16.5m/s, and the design has reached the international advanced level.

Guangxi Tongkeng & Gaofeng Tin Complex Mine of Hua Xi Group

It is the largest tin complex mine in China. The mining process is based on the large-size underground trackless equipment, underground fire control and extinguishing facility. CINF has developed the separation technologies of" gravity separation -floation- gravity separation - floation-", table flotation and fine slime cassiterite flotation ，long-distance ropeway conveying and deep-shaft mining up to the     world advanced level. The project has obtained for three times in succession the second-class awards for Key Technology Achievement , National Technological Advancement and has obtained the  bronze medal  for National Excellent Engineering Survey and Design , various provincial and ministerial-level awards for Excellent Engineering Design and Technology Advancement.

Fankou Lead-ZincMine—the comprehensive water control technology of complex large-inflow Deposit

It is a concealed karst large-inflow mine with extremely-complex hydrogeology and the currently largest deep-shaft lead-zinc mine in China. The project is a model mine project of water control in China large-inflow mines. The technology of water control has come up to the world advanced level. The mine is one of the first international technology exchange windows, one of the national pilot units of environmental-friendly mines and the national mine parks.

The Gold Mining and Mineral Processing Project of Hubei Sanxin Gold-Copper Co., Ltd. Jiguanzui-Taohuazui Gold Mine, under Hubei Sanxin Gold-Copper Co., Ltd., is a large skarn-type Au- Cu- S- Fe complex deposit distributed under Daye Lake. The design capacity is 1000kt/a. CINF has applied upright sand silo pneumatic and hydrodynamic combined high-concentration slurrying technology, high-concentration all-tailing cemented backfilling technology and surface and underground water control technology. Jiguanzui-Taohuazui Gold Mine is one of “the Pilot Units of National Environmental-friendly Mines. 

JinchuanLongshou Mine

Under the extreme geotechnical conditions of rock fracture , poor stability and high ground stress, China's first combined shaft(over 1000m) was built. The composite dynamic roadway lining technology, underhand-drift cemented filling mining technology and rod milled tailing and granulating slag cemented filling technology have reached  the international advanced level. Jinchuan longshou Mine is one of the “ Pilot Units of National Environmental-friendly Mines”. 

The Concentrator of Hunan Shizhuyuan Complex Mine

Hunan Shizhuyuan Complex Mine is reputed as "world nonferrous metal museum" by Chinese and foreign geologists. The new mineral processing technology of complex tungsten-molybdenum-bismuth was invented and named as "Shizhuyuan Method" to fill in the blank of the world up to the world advanced level .Various valuable elements are effectively recovered and utilized such as tungsten, molybdenum, bismuth and fluorite. Three complex ore concentrators and a fluorite recovery plant have been constructed up to now.

Pingguo Bauxite Mine

The technology of environmental-friendly development of oversize Karst accumulative bauxite mine has been successfully applied in Pingguo, Huayin and Xinfa Mines in Northwest Guangxi. These mines have all realized ramp-up and production up to the standard at one go with great economic and social profits and great contributions for economic development in Baise District.  Pingguo Bauxite Mine is one of the first “Demonstration Bases of Mineral Resource Comprehensive Utilization” in China, the “National Advanced Unit of Mineral Resource Comprehensive Utilization” rewarded by nine ministries and commissions under the State Council,  Pingguo Bauxite Mine is the “National Pilot Unit of Green Mine”, the “National Advanced Unit of Environmental Protection”, and a model of “resource-saving and environment-friendly mine” and a model of nonferrous mines.

Henan LuanchuanSandaozhuang Molybdenum Mine

The capacity is 50kt/d and it is the largest molybdenum mine in China. CINF is the pioneer to develop the world advanced technologies of large-size gob comprehensive disposal, comprehensive recovery of paragenetic and associated low-grade tungsten resource and tailings disposal. The mine is one of the first “Demonstration Bases of Mineral Resource Comprehensive Utilization”, it is approved as one of the “National Pilot Units of Environmental-friendly Mines”.

Tibet Julong Copper Co., Ltd.Jiamagou TSF by Centerline Embankment

The Jiamagou TSF by Centerline Embankment is a first-class TSF with the discharging capacity of 100,000-150,000t/d, the design total dam height of 200m and total storage capacity of 510 million m3.It is one of the few projects in China that have realized the safe and environmental-friendly operation of super-large TSF by centerline embankment in cold, high-altitude and high-intensity earthquake areas.

Yangshuwa TSF of Cmoc Group Limited

Yangshuwa TSF is the first 300m TSF by upstream embankment designed by CINF. It is one of the highest dams with safe operation in China at present. It has been safely operated to the design final stacking　elevation, with the total dam height of 302m　and total storage capacity of 43.279 million m3, a second-class TSF. For the first time, it is proposed to build a dual-inlet flood drainage system for the TSF, and recognized in Henan Province and established local standards.

Longshan TSF of Jingxi Huayin Aluminum Co., Ltd.

A total of seven　outer dams have been built for Longshan TSF, with the maximum dam height of 67m and the total storage capacity of 39.56 million m3, a third-class TSF. The project innovatively adopts slope crack-reinforced shotcrete technology, shallow soil layer comprehensive excavation and replacement technology, dynamic online monitoring system etc.to ensure the safe and stable operation of the TSF in karst areas, and won the first prize of Ministerial-Level Excellent Engineering Design Achievements.

Luchanggou TSF of Cmoc Group Limited

It is with the design total dam height of 292m, the total storage capacity of 99.57 million m3, a second-class TSF and a typical valley-type wet stacking TSF by upstream embankment. It is currently the TSF with the largest storage capacity and the highest construction standards in Henan Province; The first batch of intelligent TSF pilot construction projects in Henan Province. During the project construction process, various drainage technologies such as horizontal-verticalcombined drainage are used to reduce the depth of the saturation line by 30~40m.

Yize Village Phosphogypsum Slag Storage Facility Project of Zhonghua Yunlong Co., Ltd.

It is a phosphogypsum slag storage facility, the first EPC project of phosphogypsum slag storage facility undertaken by CINF at that time.The slag storage facility is with the total dam height of 123m and the total storage capacity of about 9.8 million m3. It is a third-class facility and a large slag storage facility for dry stacking.By EPC, the project construction cost is reduced and the project safety, environmental protection and reliable quality are ensured.

Wangjia TSF of Jiaojia Gold Mine of Shandong Gold Mining（Laizhou）Co., Ltd.

The Wangjia TSF of Jiaojia Gold Mine is a typical flat TSF, the TSF dam axis exceeds 4km, and the upstream embankment is adopted in the later stage, with the total dam height of 55m and the total storage capacity of 28 millionm3, a third-class TSF, the largest wet stacking TSF with four-side damming in China.It solves the problem of building TSF without land in plain areas.

PhaseⅠof Baiyin Heavy Metal Waste Recycling and Harmless Disposal Project

The project contains 1.3 million m3 hazardous waste flexible landfill, 20,000m3 rigid landfill and the corresponding supporting facilities, etc..The project effectively solved the problem of disposal of hazardous wastes containing heavy metals in Baiyin and surrounding areas, and won the First Prize of Ministerial-level Excellent Engineering Consulting Achievements.

TSF of Jv Zeravshan Llc

The project is located in Sughd, western Tajikistan. The TSF adopts upstream embankment, with the total dam height of 99.5m and the total storage capacity of 44.431 million m3, a third-class TSF. The TSF is the first overseas TSF single design project completed and put into operation by CINF. By adopting the drainage system technology combining large radiation wells and floating pipes, it solves the upstream embankment technology in high seismic intensity areas and greatly reduces the construction cost.

Storage Facility of Guangxi Xinfa Aluminum and Electricity Co., Ltd. Balong Red Mud

The Balong Red Mud Storage Facility is with the final elevation of 920m, the maximum dam height of 98m, and the total storage capacity of 40.4 million m3. It is the wet stacking red mud storage facility with the largest storage capacity, the lowest investment per unit storage capacity and the best operating conditions built in Baise, and has become a model project of red mud storage facility in Baise. For the first time, the red mud storage facility in Karst areas has added a seepage collection and drainage system under the anti-seepage layer at the bottom of the storage facility, and two independent drainage systems for clear water and turbid water are arranged in the storage facility to achieve zero discharge of wastewater.