Mount Isa Mines is gearing up for a $30 million rebrick shutdown at the copper smelter from mid-March.

Four major vessels, including the primary Isasmelt furnace, will be completely stripped and relined with new, custom refractory bricks during the overhaul.

The company said major improvements to other critical pieces of smelter infrastructure would also be completed, including an upgrade of the smelter’s off-gas system.

The month-long overhaul project will see Mount Isa Mines bring in about 400 additional contractors and specialist workers to support its regular workforce.

The Glencore-owned Mount Isa copper smelter produces copper anode from material sourced from the company’s Mount Isa and Ernest Henry Mining operations, as well as concentrate from other operators in the region through third-party processing agreements.

The Palaszczuk Government announced in late 2016 that it planned to provide a $15 million grant to support the rebricking project at the copper smelter, however Glencore is fully funding the work.