Mining News
MMG says production at Las Bambas copper mine in Peru is expected to cease on February 20
(Kitco News) - MMG Limited said yesterday that due to the restrictions to both inbound and outbound transportation caused by illegal roadblocks, its Las Bambas copper mine in Peru has been forced to progressively reduce mine operations.
The company said that if the roadblock continues, production at Las Bambas is expected to cease on approximately 20 February 2022.
Las Bambas is a large, long-life copper mine located in Cotabambas in the Apurimac region of southern Peru. With an estimated mine life of 18 plus years, the operation produces copper concentrate, with by-products of gold and silver, as well as molybdenum concentrate through conventional processing methods.
Las Bambas is one of the world's largest copper mines, with an annual nameplate throughput capacity of 51.1 million tonnes and annual expected production of between 300,000 to 320,000 tonnes of copper in copper concentrate.
The company added that the Ccapacmarca community located in the Chumbivilcas province has established a new blockade on public roads located approximately 100 kilometres from Las Bambas.
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"A Government-led dialogue resulted in agreements to remove the previous roadblocks on 30 December 2021 with the rest of the communities in Chumbivilcas," the company said in a statement.
The company also noted that the Prime Minister's office subsequently convened meetings with the Ccapacmarca communities on 17 January 2022 in which the communities rejected the agreements reached in December and established the new roadblock on 28 January 2022.
The company pointed out that its primary focus remains on working alongside the government of Peru and community members to deliver the 30 December agreement.
MMG is an international mining company that operates and develops copper, zinc and other base metals projects across Australia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Peru. MMG's major shareholder is China Minmetals Corporation (CMC).
