KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. has launched an expansion of the Sierra Gorda mine in Chile, worth USD725m.
‘The aim of the project is to significantly improve Sierra Gorda’s operational efficiency by increasing annual production of copper and associated metals by around 20%, thereby reducing the C1 unit cost,” said Anna Sobieraj-Kozakiewicz, VP of the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. responsible for International Assets.
“At the same time, we are carrying out further exploration work in the Catabela Northeast area, which will enable us to better assess the potential for the further development of our mine in the coming years. We hope that the geological potential of the deposit will enable us to extend its operational life, and in an optimal scenario, we do not rule out launching another mining project in this region.”
A ceremony was held at the mine to lay the foundation stone for construction of the fourth grinding line. The stone marks the start of the project, which is intended to increase ore processing capacity and improve efficiency.
The fourth grinding line comprises a new jaw crusher, an HPGR mill, a ball mill, a flotation line and the necessary process infrastructure.
‘The expansion of Sierra Gorda to include a fourth grinding line is a project of strategic importance to the KGHM Group,” said Remigiusz Paszkiewicz, president of the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.
“It will enable the mine to increase its production capacity, improve its efficiency and make fuller use of its potential, in line with the objectives of the KGHM 2055+ Strategy.
The project, which is now underway, will increase the plants processing capacity from 48m to about 60m tonnes of ore per year, according to KGHM. The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2029, with full production capacity expected in the second half of 2030.
