Anglo American to invest over US$80mn in Peru

UK-based miner Anglo American is preparing investments of US$83mn for its Quellaveco copper mine in Peru.

The company wants to add six ore flotation cells for better copper and molybdenum recovery and incorporate a second pebble crusher at its concentrator plant.

Anglo American recently rejected another purchase offer from Australia's BHP.

Peru's environmental certification service for sustainable investments (Senace) is evaluating a sustaining technical report (ITS) prepared by consulting firm Insideo.

See the ITS in the Documents box in the top right corner.

An ITS is filed when proposed modifications are not expected to have significant environmental and social impact, unlike environmental impact studies, which require exhaustive evaluations.

Data from the energy and mines ministry shows that Quellaveco is Peru's fourth largest copper producer, reporting 71,965t in the first quarter. Guidance for the year is 300,000-330,000t.

DETAILS

According to the ITS, Anglo American wants to add four Rougher-type and two Scavenger-type floating cells. The flotation circuit allows the concentration of copper and molybdenum contained in the pulp of mineralized material after grinding. The concentrated mineral particles are separated via bubbling and air pressure systems in the cell stage.

After the expansion, 12 Rougher-type flotation cells will operate with total volume of 10,800 m3 and approximate useful volume of 9,180 m3. Meanwhile, six Scavenger-type cells will operate with total volume of 3,000m3 and approximate useful volume of 2,550m3.

“The larger useful volumes, as a consequence of the addition of cells, will allow an increase in the residence time of the process, and, therefore, a greater recovery of Cu-Mo during the flotation process. It is important to mention that the implementation of this change will not imply an increase in the processing capacity of the concentrator plant,” the report said.

The addition of a second crusher to the pebble crushing system will reduce time lost due to maintenance of the first crusher and provide a better response to natural changes, like increasing rock hardness.

Quellaveco has a permit to operate two crushers, although only one was installed as commercial operations began only in September 2022.

The modification will be implemented alongside regular operations this year and next. Adding the flotation cells will take around 54 weeks and reconfiguring the pebble crushing system around 22 weeks.

“Both construction activities will be developed in parallel, so the total time considered for preparing the schedule corresponds to 54 weeks,” the report said.

No additional permanent labor will be required. "Only the addition of approximately 60 people, skilled and unskilled labor, is contemplated temporarily during the period of implementation of the changes," according to the report.