Dec 21,  (SinoCast Daily Business Beat via COMTEX) - Chinese copper manufacturer Jiangxi Copper Co., Ltd. (SHSE: 600362) has begun expanding the second phase of its Chengmenshan copper mine in Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, southeast China lately, with an investment of CNY 500 million.

The mine's copper output will be increased to 14,800 tons from 6,000 tons after the completion of the expansion project by 2010. And the mine will have a copper production capacity of 14,800 tons and a sulphur mine production capacity of more than 450,000 tons yearly, with a sale of CNY 500 million and a comprehensive production capacity of 7,000 tons.

The company started constructing the second phase of the whole mine in January 2009, which has a construction period of two years and a production period of 16 years. Furthermore, the Chengmenshan Mine has a daily comprehensive copper production capacity of 2,000 tons now. And its annual copper and sulphur production capacities have reached 6,000 tons and 52,400 tons, respectively.

Notably, the expansion project will raise the company's self-sufficiency rate largely, said a person in the know.