Codelco to alter Andina copper mine after criticism from environmentalists

Chilean state-owned copper mining company Codelco, also known as the world’s largest producer of copper, has laid out a $250mn plan to alter its Andina mine as a result of glaciers in the region, Reuters reports.

The action is set to be taken in the wake of some harsh criticism towards Codelco from environmentalists due the mine’s close proximity to the glaciers.

See also:

• Codelco's $4billion underground copper mine development on track for 2019 production date

• Mining in Chile: Insight into one of the top countries for Australian METS

• Mining sector to invest close to $3 billion into private networks by 2022

The company announced that the movement project will take approximately a three year to carry out, which remains reliant upon the improvement of an environmental impact study.

The company does not expect the changes to alter either the capacity, output, or life expectancy of the mine that currently produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Copper annually.

“It modifies the shape of the current pit, maintaining its size but redirecting the mining extraction toward zones where glaciers are not present,” Codelco said.

The company is also currently working on the development of a copper mine in Northern Chile, with production expected to begin in 2019.