Peruvian miners seek environmental nod for operational modifications

Peruvian gold and silver miner Coimolache is preparing various modifications at its Tantahuatay mine in Cajamarca region involving estimated investment of US$25.9mn.

According to the company – which is owned by Buenaventura (40.1%), Southern Copper (44.2%) and Estudios y Proyectos SAC (15.7%) – there are four main modifications planned and 16 secondary modifications. Construction works are due to take six years.

That is stated in a recent technical sustainability report (ITS) submitted by the company to environmental certifier Senace. The ITS is a document that extractive companies submit to the environmental regulator when they plan works with low social and environmental impact.

According to the report, the four main changes are:

• Works at the Tantahuatay pit (northern extension, reduction of the southern zone, and improving water management)
• Works at the Mirador pit (expansion of pit and improvement of water system)
• Works on the Tantahuatay leach pad (phase 8 expansion, infrastructure reinforcement and pumping stations)
• Works on the Ciénaga Norte leach pad (phase 3 expansion, infrastructure reinforcement and parameter changes)

The modifications to the pits are due to be carried out during the first two years, while the work on the Tantahuatay leach pad will take place in year six and the Ciénaga Norte pad in year three.

As for the rest of the modifications – relocation of treatment plants and technological improvements, among others – most of these will be carried out in the first year once the ITS is approved. The report is under evaluation and was prepared by consulting firm Entrix Peru. It can be downloaded in the Documents box in the top-right corner of the screen.

ANTAPACCAY

Antapaccay, a Peruvian subsidiary of Swiss company Glencore, also submitted an ITS to carry out work for its brownfield project Tintaya expansion-Coroccohuayco integration. This was prepared by consulting firm AtkinsRéalis and can also be downloaded at the Documents box.

The company, which operates in Cusco region, plans to invest US$5mn to “conduct geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations in order to collect information that will allow the physical and mechanical characterization of rock properties such as geological structures, fault systems, geotechnical stability and water tables,” according to the report.

Antapaccay said 19 drilling platforms will be used and 22 boreholes will be drilled, while 6.93km of new access roads will be built. The work is expected to take one year.

Tintaya expansion-Coroccohuayco integration is a US$1.5bn brownfield copper project which targets production of 250,000t/y. The energy and mines ministry expects construction to begin in 2027.