American Lithium said it has commenced a major technical/social initiative on the Macusani Plateau with the Peruvian Armed Forces. The solar electrification program involves the installation of solar panels at remote homes that lack electricity. To date, the miner has installed over 240 of the planned 1,000 installations for this year in the five Andean communities surrounding its Falchani lithium…
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Chilean miner Antofagasta Minerals unveiled a new desalination plant that will help mitigate the effects of a 15-year drought on the production of copper at its flagship mine, according to Reuters. Chilean President Gabriel Boric praised the $2 billion-plus project, saying the situation in the Coquimbo region, where the Los Pelambres mine is located, is concerning. “Especially with the climate…
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Peruvian miner Buenaventura confirmed it has received its final operating permit from the country’s Ministry of Energy and Mines for the start of production at its Yumpag silver mine. The operation, wholly owned by the company, is near the Uchucchacua Unit, Yanahuanca District, Daniel Alcides Carrión Province, Pasco Region. It will be Buenaventura’s flagship asset, said CEO Leandro Garcia. He…
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Komatsu has now surpassed 700 commercial deployments of its FrontRunner autonomous haulage system (AHS) as of February. The achievement was met last month and includes over 100 units of the 980E-AT, one of the world’s largest ultra-class dump trucks capable of carrying 400 tons. The 700th AHS truck was deployed at Glencore’s Lomas Bayas copper mine in Chile, which first…
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The National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) and the Shuar Arutam Peoples have reiterated their rejection of Solaris Resources’ Warintza copper project and President Daniel Noboa’s plans to expand mining operations in the country. The groups noted that 12 of the country’s most important mining projects currently face legal challenges, opposition, or are paralyzed – many due to…
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A truck driver has been killed at Codelco’s Radomiro Tomic copper mine in northern Chile, officials have confirmed. The heavy equipment operator, 30-year-old Ana Camila Rojas Farias, was operating in the pit area at the time of the 8 March accident; Codelco did not provide any additional details. Activities at the mine were immediately suspended. An investigation into the causes…
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Global miner BHP has confirmed that its Chilean mines – including the Escondida, Spence and Cerro Colorado copper operations – have surpassed 40% female representation, which is more than double the industry average. In line with the global commitment to achieve gender balance, BHP reached a 40.4% female presence in Chile. Another achievement: BHP has reached 40.8% women in leadership…
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Sandvik has confirmed the receipt of a significant order to supply its AutoMine load and haul automation system to Codelco’s El Teniente mine in Chile. The deal, worth SEK 300 million/US$28.6 million, was booked in the first quarter of 2024. The OEM noted that it follows multiple automation solutions orders from the miner last year. It also confirmed it will…
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Canadian-based exploration company Rugby Resources said recent surface sampling at its Cobrasco copper project in Colombia has yielded significant copper/molybdenum assay results. Additionally, a new molybdenum stockworked porphyry occurrence has been identified approximately 1 kilometer northeast of the Cobrasco Central drilling area. Reconnaissance mapping indicates the new molybdenum porphyry may represent a continuation of the primary mineralization intersected in drill…
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The collapse of an illegally operated open-pit gold mine in central Venezuela has killed at least 14 people and injured several more, reported the Associated Press. Bolivar state governor Angel Marcano told local reporters that 14 bodies had been removed so far and authorities knew of at least 11 people injured. “We continue to carry out rescue work,” he said,…
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