Metso has been awarded with an order to supply crushing and material handling equipment for the first stage of Codelco's El Teniente copper mine expansion project located in Cachapoal province. The order was booked in Metso's first-quarter 2019 orders received.
El Teniente is the world's largest underground copper mine as well as the largest operation of the Chilean state-owned copper mining company Codelco. The expansion project called El Teniente New Mine Level is expected to add 50 years to the life of the mine; the start-up of the first stage is in 2023. Once completed, the full expansion will allow El Teniente to maintain its current output of approximately 450,000 tonnes of refined copper per year.
"We are proud of being part of this landmark project in which we will utilize our process and product knowledge gathered over 150 years of experience. In a landscape where challenges are continuously evolving, we are fully committed to keep developing solutions that help our customers to secure sustainable productivity and long-term success," says Victor Tapia, president, mining equipment business area at Metso.
Metso's delivery will include primary gyratory crushing equipment with apron feeders and conveyer belts as well as related services. Most of the equipment deliveries to El Teniente are scheduled for 2021, while services will be carried out between 2022 and 2023.
"Metso in Chile and Codelco have a long history of cooperation. This order confirms once again our expertise and our position as a leading equipment supplier for underground mining and as a key equipment a supplier for Codelco. Going forward, we'll focus on providing El Teniente with a high level of performance, reliability and best-in-class support service throughout the project life cycle," Tapia concludes.
(This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal)