Codelco’s production would reach 2 million tons in 2014
The state company will remain about 1.8 million tons by 2020. Structural projects will begin to enter from 2018
One of the most repeated themes within Codelco is the need for progress on structural projects for the company not to reduce their production violently.
This issue would be fairly controlled as external consultants provide estimates of the levels of copper extracted by the state company by the end of the decade will remain above 1.8 million tons.
According to a projection made by the mining consultant Alfonso González and analyzed by the UC Centre for Mining next year Codelco would reach a production of 2 million tons of copper, showing his best ever.
This considering that its divisions in the state company will add 1.824 million tons in 2014 to 178 thousand tons that their participation will be added in El Abra (49%) and Anglo American (20%). Ie will add 2 million tons in 2014.
Gustavo Lagos, a professor at UC Mining Centre, explains that this increase compared to 1.79 million tons in 2013 is due to the contribution made by Ministro Hales site, which will operate at full capacity in 2014.
This labor will provide the company with about 180 thousand tons of copper, an amount that will allow the company to mitigate the effects of deteriorating ore grade copper-percentage gain is achieved for every ton of material-situation are living more of their sites. Chuquicamata is one of the most emblematic.-
Projections to 2020
Mining Minister Hernan de Solminihac says that the state company has made a series of productive adjustments which also help increase the level of extraction of copper.
However, within Codelco say their calculations are a bit more conservative and it was only in 2015 could record close to 2 million tons levels.
Following the estimation of González, the corporation leading by Thomas Keller as CEO would score a decline in production from 2016 and would remain under the two million tons by 2018 (see graphic).
During this period all Codelco’s sites will record declines in the amount of copper extracted. The decline would be more violent than Chuquicamata experience.
Already from 2019 Company’s copper production will return to levels of 2 million tons. By then the entrance to full operation of the new level Mina El Teniente, which will keep producing division is estimated.
According to the state company’s projections, from 2019 may begin the removal of Chuquicamata underground. This will allow the company to reach about 400 thousand tons of copper in the site.
For Minister de Solminihac, with the entry into operation of these structural projects Codelco should remain the world leader in the production of copper.-
Source: El Mercurio
