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Chuquicamata open pit copper mine productivity buys it another year of operations

Posted on 12 Nov 2020

After a technical-economic analysis, adjustments in the designs and the performance of the equipment and good results from the Chuquicamata open pit copper mine, owner and operator Codelco has defined that it will extend the exploitation phase of the deposit for another year. The original program considered finalising the exploitation of the pit in December of this year and focusing efforts only on the movement of stock material during 2021 and 2022.

The plan now contemplates the extraction of copper ore from phase 49, a process that during 2021 may see the open pit coexist with the operation of Chuqui Underground, which will bring positive returns as it ramps up. The surface ore loading and extraction equipment will therefore continue to operate in the pit, as well as the maintenance and production support services. Codelco says the positive numbers obtained in the pit this year are based on the improvement of work practices, an increase in productivity and the implementation of a 7 x 7 workday, which provides better conditions to guard against the spread of COVID-19, operational continuity and general quality of working life.

The open pit mine during 2020 will contribute more than 30,000 additional tonnes of fine copper to the budget plan. Executive President, Octavio Araneda, explains that “during this year, and despite the complications of the pandemic, the transformation roadmap remains intact. We have promoted and reached new ways of operating, which has resulted in the Chuquicamata case, in a pit team that adapted, aspired to more and sought continuous improvement. The commitment of the workers in this area shows that putting operational excellence among the priority objectives has concrete positive consequences.”

Araneda emphasised that continuity has come about by the mine maintaining continuous improvement both in the excellence of its operations, which involves reducing costs and increasing productivity, and in promoting enablers, which implies guaranteeing safety and occupational health, plus a deep cultural transformation, better talent management and a commitment to be sustainable.

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