Anglo American in its full year 2021 financial results released today says its Quellaveco copper project in Peru is on track to achieve first production in mid-2022, in line with the original project schedule despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to date. 2021 saw the achievement of several major milestones and, as at February 2022, construction on all work fronts is reaching the final stages.

The Vizcachas Dam – part of the infrastructure that will provide water to both the operation and local communities – is now commissioned and turned over to the operating team, and the 95 km water pipeline to site is on track to complete in the first quarter of 2022.

In the mine, pre-stripping started in April 2021, moving 24 Mt in the year, and first ore was reached and excavated in October. The majority of the mine equipment fleet is now assembled, being the first in Peru to use fully automated haul trucks and drills (autonomous Caterpillar 794 ACs and Epiroc Pit Viper 351s), and all three Caterpillar 7495 rope shovels are operation-ready.

Significant progress has been made on the primary crusher, with commissioning due to begin in the first quarter of 2022. The overland ore transport conveyor belt to the processing plant is being installed following completion of excavation work in the tunnel section of the conveyor route.

Anglo adds: “We are also nearing construction completion at the processing plant, and pre-commissioning of the first of two milling lines began in January 2022. In the tailings area, the starter dam is built to its full elevation, and at the port, works to expand the existing port facilities remain on-track to allow copper concentrate shipments to begin in 2022.”