BHP turns focus toward Peru’s copper potential

An executive for BHP has shared that the global miner plans to expand its presence in Peru through exploration of new copper projects, reported Reuters.  Rag Udd, who heads the company in the Americas, told an audience at the Perumin mining conference in Arequipa, Peru, that BHP will invest $12 million on exploration in the next 10 months and that…

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Escondida goes big, moves to renew entire fleet

BHP, owner of the Escondida copper operation in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile, is collaborating with Caterpillar and Finning International to replace Escondida’s entire haul truck fleet. Under the agreement, which the group jointly confirmed is part of a strategic equipment renewal process developed by Escondida, the mine will take delivery of new Caterpillar 798 AC electric-drive trucks with…

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Chile minister: copper mining royalties to rise

The finance minister for Chile, Mario Marcel, has reportedly outlined a tax reform plan that will not only raise taxes across the country, but will also increase mining royalties for copper companies producing over 50,000 tonnes annually. The plan, according to a Reuters report, would impact some of the industry’s largest producers including BHP, Antofagasta, Codelco and others. It has…

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BHP opens US$2.46 billion copper concentrator at Spence

Global miner BHP inaugurated a new copper concentrator plant on May 13 at its Spence operation in northern Chile, which will extend the life of the mine for another 50 years. The project required an investment of US$2.46 billion and has a throughput of 95,000 t/d to produce copper concentrate and molybdenum concentrate. The miner said the project supports its…

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