Short-Term Operational Continuity Alcaparrosa Mine

Description: Short-Term Operational Continuity Alcaparrosa Mine Mining development projects over 5,000 tons/month The Short-Term Operational Continuity Project seeks to extend the useful life of the project approved by RCA No. 158/2017, for a limited period of three (3) years , up to the year 2025 inclusive. On the one hand, an extension of the exploitation of the Alcaparrosa deposit is foreseen until the year 2025, through the exploitation of new ore reserves, corresponding to approximately 5 million tons, through which an approximate annual average rate of 4,400 tpd can be reached. , with an estimated maximum of 5,000 tpd during the useful life of the Project. The ore will be transported in its entirety from Mina Alcaparrosa to Mina Candelaria (owned by Compañía Contractual Minera Candelaria or "CCMC"), as is currently the case. On the other hand, this Project also considers giving operational continuity to the transportation of ore of 1,400 tpd annual average from the Santos Mine to the Candelaria Mine (CCMC) through the same routes approved environmentally through RCA No. 158/2017. This Alcaparrosa Mine Operational Continuity Project does not incorporate new works or facilities, nor activities other than those already environmentally approved. For this reason it is not considered a construction phase. In addition, the operation will maintain the Sub Level Stopping method for the exploitation of the underground mine and the sterile material generated will continue to be used in the filling of the exploited chambers, not requiring an increase in the approved capacity of Dump No. 1 on the surface, which will be occasionally used for the disposal of sterile material. The general objective of the Project is to extend by three (3) years the useful life of mining operations and activities that were approved by Exempt Resolution No. 158, of December 27, 2017, of the Environmental Assessment Commission of the Region of Atacama, which approved the "Alcaparrosa Mine Operational Continuity" Project. This means prolonging the execution of these operations and activities until the year 2025 inclusive. Consequently, in the first place, the Project considers continuing with the extraction of ore in the Alcaparrosa Mine and its consequent shipment to the Candelaria Plant, slightly optimizing its exploitation capacity by 2.3% compared to what is currently approved, going from 4,300 tpd approved 4,400 tpd as an approximate annual average, maintaining the estimated maximum rate of 5,000 tpd, and without modifying or incorporating new works or activities to existing ones. The aforementioned optimization will be possible because this Project does not generate new investments or an increase in the activities and works approved by RCA No. 158/2017, but only good production management and the use of existing infrastructure, making use of existing clearances in the process. For these purposes, the mineral transport of the environmental assessment was considered in its most unfavorable scenario, covering the marginal increase proposed in this DIA. For their part, the environmental actions, measures and commitments included in RCA No. 158/2017 have shown effectiveness in controlling the impacts of the operation of the approved Project that are sufficient, as demonstrated in this DIA, to take charge of this marginal increase of 2.3% in mineral extraction, compared to its previous environmental approval. Secondly, this Project also considers giving operational continuity for the same period of three (3) years to the transportation of 1,400 tpd of ore between Mina Santos and Minera Candelaria, not considering modifications regarding this in relation to what is currently approved. All these activities have environmental authorization, mainly covered by Exempt Resolution No. 158, of December 27, 2017, of the Environmental Assessment Commission of the Atacama Region, which approved the EIA Project "Alcaparrosa Mine Operational Continuity".