About

Nubia Cardona

Principal

Owner profile

Nubia Cardona, Ph.D., P. Eng., Metallurgical Process Optimization & Sustainability.

I am the founder of Deltamet Consultants, an independent Canadian company specializing in extractive metallurgy for mining and metals companies.

Professional engineer with a strong foundation in mining and metallurgy, complemented by hands-on operational expertise. My career spans metallurgical process optimization, sustainability initiatives, and decarbonization efforts, with expertise in process chemistry, flowsheet modeling, and environmental compliance. With a growth-oriented mindset and a broad cultural perspective, I tackle complex technical challenges, drive innovation, and contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability within the metals and mining sector.

I have worked with several copper and nickel smelters worldwide, including Glencore-Sudbury Smelter, Angloamerican-Chagres smelter, Codelco, BHP Billiton, Atlantic Copper-Huelva Smelter, Aurubis, also with Niobec -Niobium smelter, contributing to process optimization, energy efficiency, and sustainability innovations.

Thermfact Agent – Representing Thermfact in Latin America: https://factsage.com

Looking for expert guidance in metallurgical processes, sustainability strategies, or technical consulting? Let’s collaborate!

Recent Professional/Operations Experience

Senior Process Engineer | Glencore – Sudbury Smelter (Oct. 2021-March-2025).

At Glencore, I led metallurgical optimization projects, ensuring process stability and advancing energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives.

✔ Optimized process gas treatment, improving emissions control and efficiency.
✔ Developed fluxing practices, reducing overblowing and strengthening refractory integrity.
✔ Designed and executed plant trials for battery black mass treatment, converter slag characterization, and FeNi processing.
✔ Spearheaded energy optimization, including sustainable reductants like biocarbon pellets.

Publications

Blow-by-Blow Modelling of Pasar Smelter’s Converter Aisle (Copper 2022, Santiago, Chile)
Thermodynamic Analysis & Optimization of Flash Furnace Slag at Glencore Pasar Smelter (Copper 2022, Chile)
Energy Consumption in Copper Smelting: A New Asian Horse in the Race (JOM, Vol. 67, No. 5, 2015)
Optimizing Converter Aisle Operation at Atlantic Copper Smelter, Spain (Copper 2013, Chile)
Optimizing Peirce Smith Converters Using Thermodynamic Modeling and Plant Sampling (JOM, Vol. 64, No. 5, 2012)
The Physical Chemistry of Copper Smelting Slags and Copper losses at Paipote Smelter. I and II. CMQ. Vol. 50 (4) (2011), pp. 319-340. Best Paper Award, The MetSoc of CIM (2012)
Contribution to the Physicochemical Analysis of Copper Losses in Slags (Doctoral Thesis, Metallurgical Engineering Department, University of Concepcion, 2011)