The Quellaveco Copper Mine in Peru, in which Mitsubishi Corporation holds a 40% stake, is scheduled to return to full operations next year. The mine began operations in July this year and began selling copper concentrates in September, as per Japan Metal Daily.
Commenting on the ramp-up of the mine, Satoshi Koyama, Executive Officer (General Manager of the Mineral Resources Division), said: “We are progressing smoothly without any major problems, and within one year (from the start of production), we expect two beneficiation lines, a molybdenum recovery plant, and a new beneficiation technology that is expected to improve actual yields and throughput…”
The Quellaveco Copper Mine is one of the world’s largest new copper mines under development. If full production is achieved, the annual output scale will be about 300,000 t (average for the first 10 years after start of production).
“For the first five years from the start of production, we will prioritise mining in high-quality areas, so we expect to achieve production of more than 300,000 t,” says Koyama.
In addition to a new beneficiation technology called “course particle flotation” that enables the recovery of copper from coarse-grained copper ore with high actual yields, the mine is actively introducing various cutting-edge technologies, such as the full-scale introduction of automatic trucks, which are still rare in the world.
Automated trucks will take some time to optimise, but since Kejabeco is introduced from the start of operations, it can be established earlier than retrofits in which manned and unmanned trucks coexist.
The use of digital technology in mines, such as the use of automatic heavy machinery and centralized management of operations from control centres, not only improves productivity, but also reduces the risk of occupational accidents and increases the number of opportunities for female employees to play an active role.
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