Chilean Antofagasta’s copper output may decline in 2022 due to water shortages
Time:Mon, 24 Jan 2022 09:37:51 +0800
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Antofagasta plc, a Chilean copper mining group, recently said that the copper output was expected to decline this year due to the long drought in Chile, which affected copper mine operations. Water is mainly used to separate minerals from ore and for subsequent processing procedures.
Antofagasta’s copper output dropped by 1.7% year on year to around 722,000 tons in 2020, still within the company's expectations. However, the copper output was expected to fall to 660,000-690,000 tons this year due to water shortages.
In order to solve the problem, Antofagasta is now rebuilding a desalination plant at its Los Pelambres copper mine. The cost is currently being reviewed. The expansion of the concentrator plant was scheduled to be completed in early 2023.
