Technical and Economic Feasibility of Smelting and Refining in Developing Countries

Overview & Synopsis

This report outlines the key fundamentals, challenges and opportunities related to midstream processing, smelting and refining in developing countries that are part of the World Bank Group’s Resilient and Inclusive Supply-Chain Enhancement (RISE) Partnership. It provides an analytical framework to help policymakers evaluate constraints and enabling conditions. It examines the key determinants of success related to the economics of smelting and refining, with a focus on those below highlighted in blue. Where relevant, the report also includes analysis of the other success criteria. The report focuses on four commodities that at various points in their value chain are smelted and/or refined: aluminum, copper, lithium and zinc.