Codelco adds 30 years to Andina copper mine

Chile state-owned copper miner Codelco has cut the ribbon at its US$1.4 billion Andina Transfer project at its namesake division, which allows the world’s largest copper producer to extend the life of the asset for another 30 years.

The Andina Transfer project turned the underground operation into an open pit mine located 3,500 metres above sea level nestled in the Andes Mountains, and which holds 30% of Chile’s copper reserves.

Construction took eight years and included a 52-metre-tall dome that encloses the truck unloading area, protects the primary crusher from winter temperatures and prevents dust emissions.

Andina Transfer will also operate with a 4 km underground, regenerative ore conveyor belt that will supply over 3.6MW to the division’s electricity network, reducing energy consumption from external sources.

The crushing and ore transportation system will now need only 14 pieces of equipment, down from 50 previously needed.

Andina Transfer’s production capacity is set at 240,000 tonnes of copper per year. Until now, the division had an annual production of 184,000 tonnes per year of the metal, representing only 10% Codelco’s total output.

The operation is currently in the commissioning phase and the ramp-up stage will begin in February.

Chile, the world’s largest producer of the metal used in everything from construction to electric vehicles and renewable energy, accounts for nearly 30% of the world’s output.

The nation expects to receive almost US$69 billion in mining investments through the end of the decade, down 6.9% from the previous forecast, state copper commission Cochilco said in November.