Antamina mine

Last updated

Antamina mine
Antamina Mine Tailings Pond.jpg
Tailings pond at the Antamina mine
Location
Peru location map.svg
Schlaegel und Eisen nach DIN 21800.svg
Antamina mine
Department Ancash [1]
Country Peru
Coordinates 9°32′14″S77°03′40″W / 9.5372°S 77.0611°W / -9.5372; -77.0611
Production
Products Copper, zinc, molybdenum
Type Open-pit [2]
History
OpenedOctober 1, 2001 (2001-10-01) [3]
Owner
Company Teck Resources (22.5%), BHP (33.75%), Glencore (33.75%), Mitsubishi Corporation (10%) [2]
Website www.antamina.com

The Antamina mine in the Andes Mountains of Peru is one of the largest copper/zinc mines in the world. It is an open pit mine which had an estimated life of mine at 15 years. It also produced molybdenum. The mine is jointly owned by Teck Resources, BHP, Glencore, and Mitsubishi Corporation [2] and independently operated by Compañía Minera Antamina S.A. [1] It produced 390,800 tons of copper concentrate in 2006, 461,000 tons [4] in 2013. The total capital expenditure of the mine by 2013 was US$2.3 billion. İt is located at an altitude of 4,300 meters above sea level. [5]

Contents

In 2014, unionized mine workers went on strike over pay and benefits. [6] [7]

History

At the time of its development, the mine was Peru's largest investment project at $2.3 billion. Part of the country's dependence on mining, it was expected to raise exports by $900 million. [8]

In 2010, the mine underwent an expansion program that increased its processing capacity by 31%. [3]

As of March 2023, the mine is expected to shut down in 2028. A $2 billion investment to extend the lifespan to 2036 is underway pending approval of an environmental impact study. [9]

Local relations

Many residents of land that is now the mine sold their property in the hopes that the mine would uplift the local economy, but there was little effect to jobs or infrastructure. Villagers living nearby complain that dust thrown up by the mine is toxic. Mine officials, along with President Ollanta Humala, denied that the mine was unsafe. [10]

In November 2021, the rural Aquia community blockaded the mine's operations. Protestors alleged that the mine had not fully paid the community for the land, which the company disputed. [11]

The company launched an initiative, FOGEL, with the stated aim of strengthening the capacities of local governments and communities. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BHP</span> Australian multinational mining and petroleum company

BHP, officially named BHP Group Limited and formerly known as BHP Billiton, is an Australian multinational mining and metals public company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

Falconbridge Limited was a Toronto, Ontario-based natural resources company with operations in 18 countries, involved in the exploration, mining, processing, and marketing of metal and mineral products, including nickel, copper, cobalt, and platinum. It was listed on the TSX and NYSE (FAL), and had revenue of US$6.9 billion in 2005. In August 2006, it was absorbed by Swiss-based mining company Xstrata, which had formerly been a major shareholder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Quantum Minerals</span> Canada based mining company

First Quantum Minerals is a Canadian-based mining and metals company whose principal activities include mineral exploration, development and mining. Its main product is copper, which accounts for 80% of revenues as of 2016.

Anglo American plc is a British multinational mining company with headquarters in London, England. It is the world's largest producer of platinum, with around 40% of world output, as well as being a major producer of diamonds, copper, nickel, iron ore, polyhalite and steelmaking coal. The company has operations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teck Resources</span> Canadian mining company

Teck Resources Limited, known as Teck Cominco until late 2008, is a diversified natural resources company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, that is engaged in mining and mineral development, including coal for the steelmaking industry, copper, zinc, and energy. Secondary products include lead, silver, gold, molybdenum, germanium, indium and cadmium. Teck Resources was formed from the amalgamation of Teck and Cominco in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bingham Canyon Mine</span> Worlds largest open-pit copper mine, located in Utah, United States

The Bingham Canyon Mine, more commonly known as Kennecott Copper Mine among locals, is an open-pit mining operation extracting a large porphyry copper deposit southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah, in the Oquirrh Mountains. The mine is the largest human-made excavation, and deepest open-pit mine in the world, which is considered to have produced more copper than any other mine in history – more than 19,000,000 short tons. The mine is owned by Rio Tinto Group, a British-Australian multinational corporation. The copper operations at Bingham Canyon Mine are managed through Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation which operates the mine, a concentrator plant, a smelter, and a refinery. The mine has been in production since 1906, and has resulted in the creation of a pit over 0.75 miles (1,210 m) deep, 2.5 miles (4 km) wide, and covering 1,900 acres. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 under the name Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine. The mine experienced a massive landslide in April 2013 and a smaller slide in September 2013.

Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, is a multinational aluminium company headquartered in Beijing, People's Republic of China. It is a public company, listed in Hong Kong and in New York. In 2021, it was the world's largest aluminum producer, ahead of China Hongqiao Group, Rusal and Shandong Xinfa.

Glencore plc is a Swiss multinational commodity trading and mining company with headquarters in Baar, Switzerland. Glencore's oil and gas head office is in London and its registered office is in Saint Helier, Jersey. The current company was created through a merger of Glencore with Xstrata on 2 May 2013. As of 2015, it ranked tenth in the Fortune Global 500 list of the world's largest companies. In the 2020 Forbes Global 2000, Glencore International was ranked as the 484th-largest public company in the world. As of July 2022, it was the world's largest commodity trader. In 2023, the company was ranked 59th in the Forbes Global 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China Minmetals</span> Chinese metal and minerals company

China Minmetals Corporation is a Chinese metals and mineral trading company headquartered in Beijing. It is a state-owned corporation under direct supervision of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC). China Minmetals is engaged in the production and trading of metals and minerals, including copper, aluminum, tungsten, tin, antimony, lead, zinc, and nickel.

Lundin Mining Corporation is a Canadian company that owns and operates mines in Sweden, United States, Chile, Portugal and Brazil that produce base metals such as copper, zinc, and nickel. Headquartered in Toronto, the company was founded by Adolf Lundin and operated by Lukas Lundin. While it was incorporated to pursue an interest in a diamond mine in Brazil, the company re-structured and raised funds to develop the Storliden mine in Sweden. It purchased the Swedish Zinkgruvan Mine from Rio Tinto and then merged with Arcon International Resources for its Galmoy Mine in Ireland and with Eurozinc for its Neves-Corvo mine in Portugal. The company subsequently purchased and operated the Eagle mine, Candelaria mine, and Chapada mine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in Namibia</span>

Mining is the biggest contributor to Namibia's economy in terms of revenue. It accounts for 25% of the country's income. Its contribution to the gross domestic product is also very important and makes it one of the largest economic sectors of the country. Namibia produces diamonds, uranium, copper, magnesium, zinc, silver, gold, lead, semi-precious stones and industrial minerals. The majority of revenue comes from diamond mining. In 2014, Namibia was the fourth-largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Copper Corporation</span> Mining company

Southern Copper Corporation is a mining company that was founded in 1952. The current incarnation of Southern Copper can be traced to the 2005 acquisition of Southern Peru Copper Corporation by the Mexican copper producer Minera México.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mineral industry of Peru</span>

The mineral industry of Peru has played an important role in the nation's history and been integral to the country's economic growth for several decades. The industry has also contributed to environmental degradation and environmental injustice; and is a source of environmental conflicts that shape public debate on good governance and development.

Franco-Nevada Corporation is a Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based, gold-focused royalty and streaming company with a diversified portfolio of cash-flow producing assets. It is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange.

Mining in North Korea is important to the country's economy. North Korea is naturally abundant in metals such as magnesite, zinc, tungsten, and iron; with magnesite resources of 6 billion tonnes, particularly in the North and South Hamgyong Province and Chagang Province. However, often these cannot be mined due to the acute shortage of electricity in the country, as well as the lack of proper tools to mine these materials and an antiquated industrial base. Coal, iron ore, limestone, and magnesite deposits are larger than other mineral commodities. Mining joint ventures with other countries include China, Canada, Egypt, and South Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympic Dam mine</span> Poly-metallic underground mine in South Australia

The Olympic Dam mine is a large poly-metallic underground mine located in South Australia, 550 km (340 mi) NNW of Adelaide. It is the fourth largest copper deposit and the largest known single deposit of uranium in the world. Copper is the largest contributor to total revenue, accounting for approximately 70% of the mine's revenue, with the remaining 25% from uranium, and around 5% from silver and gold. BHP has owned and operated the mine since 2005. The mine was previously owned by Western Mining Corporation. Since the 1970s environmentalists, traditional owners and others have campaigned against the mine, largely on the basis of its contribution to the nuclear cycle and its use of underground water.

The Cuajone mine is a large copper mine located in the south of Peru in Moquegua Region. Cuajone represents one of the largest copper reserve in Peru and in the world having estimated reserves of 1.6 billion tonnes of ore grading 0.57% copper.

Las Bambas copper mine is an open-pit copper mine in the Cotabambas province of Peru. With over a billion tons of copper ore, the deposit is one of the largest in the world and produces 2% of global copper. Las Bambas also produces molybdenum concentrates. Development began on the mine in August 2015 and production began in early 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teck Cominco smelter</span> Smelter in Trail, British Columbia

The Teck Cominco smelter, also known as the Teck Cominco Lead-Zinc Smelter, Cominco Smelter, and Trail smelter located in Trail, British Columbia, Canada, is the largest integrated lead-zinc smelter of its kind in the world. It is situated approximately 10 miles (16 km) north of the border between British Columbia, Canada and Washington, in the United States, on the Columbia River. It is owned and operated by Vancouver, British Columbia-based Teck Cominco Metals Ltd—renamed Teck Resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–2022 Peruvian mining protests</span>

On July 23, 2021, following Pedro Castillo's electoral victory, mining communities near Las Bambas copper mine blocked the road used to transport the copper. The protesters claimed that local communities saw little benefit from the wealth generated by the mining.

References

  1. 1 2 BHP. "Peru". BHP. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Teck Resources. "Antamina". Teck. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 Antamina. "Nuestra historia". Antamina (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  4. "Antamina Copper Mine, Peru". Digiscend. 2 November 2014. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  5. "Antamina Copper-Zinc Mine".
  6. Dube, Ryan (10 November 2014). "Peru's Antamina Says Workers Begin Strike at Copper Mine" . The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  7. Dube, Ryan (15 December 2014). "Peru Workers' Strike at Antamina Mine Has Ended" . The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  8. Crabtree, John (2002). Peru. Oxfam Professional. p. 35. ISBN   978-0855984823.
  9. Aquino, Marco (29 March 2023). "EXCLUSIVE-Peru's Antamina mine life extension cost hiked to $2 bln, CEO says". Reuters . Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  10. Bajak, Frank (7 June 2014). "Peru mining boom leaves highlanders behind". The Associated Press . Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  11. Rochabrun, Marcelo; Aquino, Marco (2 November 2021). "Peru community to suspend Antamina protest that rattled markets". Reuters . Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  12. Antamina. "Fortalecimiento de la gestión local". Antamina (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.