Antaminaone of Peru’s largest copper mines, hopes to get the go-ahead from the country’s environmental authority early next year to extend the life of its deposit to 2036, the company’s chief executive told Reuters.
The Peruvian mine, a firm controlled by Glencore, BHP, Teck and Mitsubishi, had announced in April an expansion project that includes investments of US$1.6 billion to extend the useful life of its deposit, which currently expires in 2028.
“In an optimistic scenario, we should have approval at the end of this year or early next year.”, said Antamina’s executive president on Monday night, adding that the approval would give the basic metals miner the green light for its investment plan.
In addition, Gobitz said Antamina is awaiting a response from local authority Senace to the company’s request to modify its environmental impact assessment, which currently allows the mine to operate only until 2028.
He added that Antamina, as part of that process, is currently carrying out a third and last “citizen participation” with residents of the northern region of Ancash, where the mine is located.
“The operational footprint remains the same and production would not change”, he stated.
With information from Reuters
