BHP and Microsoft have teamed up to improve the performance of the concentrator at the Escondida operation in Chile using advanced digital technology. The companies hope to boost copper recovery at the world’s largest copper mine. BHP Chief Technical Officer Laura Tyler said by augmenting digital technology capabilities with new ways of working, the team at Escondida is well-positioned to…
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Albemarle said it aims to expand its lithium operations in Chile’s Atacama salt flat as early as 2028 with direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology under a current government contract, reported Reuters. “Depending on environmental and other permits needed in Chile, as well as scaling technologies, we believe [DLE] should be implemented, if everything goes well, towards 2028 or 2029,” Chilean…
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Thiess, as it grows its footprint in Chile, has been retained by Minera Centinela for a A$155 million full-service mining contract at the Llano project in the Sierra Gorda District of Antofagasta. Under the letter of agreement (LOA), work will begin this month. The scope of work includes mining operations, maintenance and asset management services for the greenfield copper mine,…
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Thiess has confirmed that a fleet of five new electric-drive Liebherr T 264s have made their entrance, decked out in Thiess blue, at Antofagasto’s Encuentro copper operation in northern Chile. The arrival, which is an expansion to Thiess’ 240-tonne fleet range, underscores its dedication to expansion in the region, Thiess officials said, allowing for increased productivity and efficiency through faster…
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Anglo American said that, after talks and an agreement with a Chilean water desalination provider, it has secured the supply of desalinated water – which will meet nearly half of its needs – for its Los Bronces open-pit copper mine in the country. Anglo American base metals business CEO Ruben Fernandes said that the miner has a target to reduce…
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Workers at BHP’s Escondida mine in northern Chile have accepted a new offer from the global miner and will not move forward with a planned strike over safety concerns, reported Reuters. The Sindicato No. 1 union said that 1,495 members out of the 1,902 who voted accepted the new proposal from BHP. “This proposal contains a series of concrete and…
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Photo: Business Wire Capstone Copper has announced the Mantoverde-Santo Domingo (MV-SD) District Integration Plan, which showcases the path toward creating a world-class mining district in the Atacama region of Chile. The miner is targeting over 200,000 tonnes per year of low-cost copper production at MV-SD with the potential to also become one of the largest and lowest cost battery-grade cobalt…
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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…
Read MoreThe 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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After weeks of tension from an open-ended strike, workers at Codelco in Chile – considered the largest copper producer globally – have ended their action after reaching a deal with the government. According to a Barron’s report citing the Agence France Presse, the strike by FTC Labor Federation involved about 40,000 mine workers, all protesting the closure of the Ventanas…
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