Minera El Abra to double production with US$5 billion investment
24-Jul-2012 Estrategia – News
Codelco is seeking formulae to develop beyond its own projects. The company has recently announced its participation in some projects in Ecuador and they are also negotiating a formula to acquire a part of Anglo Sur (ex Disputada). Now they are also taking part of the US$ 5 billion injection for El Abra Mill Project where Freeport McMoRan is major partner with 51% of ownership while Codelco has 49%. This investment is aimed at doubling the mine production that is going through the prefeasibility stage and is located at 75 kilometers from Calama.
As indicated in a document issued by Cochilco, prefeasibility study for construction of a new Concentrator Plant in El Abra was started in July 2010 when the company proposed to construct a plant with treatment capacity of 150,000 – 200,000 tons per day which will approximately yield 300,000 tons of copper concentrate thus doubling copper cathodes production in the mine.
Freeport McMoRan also is owner of 80% of Candelaria/Ojos del Salado complex in Chile. Some sources from the company reported that the new operation of El Abra would be expected to start up between 2015 and 2019.
