Tia Maria Copper mine
Tia Maria project, including various mining concessions totalling 32,989.64 hectares, will represent an investment of approximately USD 1.4 billion and will produce 120,000 tons (metric tons) of copper cathodes using state of the art technology which would be compliant with the highest international environmental and sustainable development standards.
The project is currently expected to generate 3,500 jobs during the construction phase. When in operation, Tia Maria would directly employ 600 workers and indirectly another 2,000. Through its expected twenty-years of life, the project related services would create significant business opportunities in the Arequipa region.
In addition, the Company intends to implement social responsibility programs in the Arequipa region similar to those established in the communities near its other operations in Peru.
Milestones
- 2014
EIA approval of Tia Maria copper mine project
- 2007
Feasibility studies completed
2014
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
Kallpa Generación SA
Southern Copper signed a 10-year power purchase agreement for 120MWh with Kallpa Generación. The 120MW contract goes into effect in April 2017 and ends on April 30, 2027. Southern Copper expects to start producing 120,000t/y copper at Tía María by end-2016. The company is counting on Tía María, Toquepala and Cuajone expansions to double annual copper output to 1.2Mt by 2017.
Source: Kallpa Generación S.A
Source: Kallpa Generación S.A
120Megawatts Per Annum10Contract period (years)
2013
2013
Geological evaluation
Ego-Aguirre & Smuda
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Geoservice Ingeniería
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies for Tia Maria Southern Peru Cooper Corporation project.
According to directorial resolution Nº392-2014-MEM/DGAAM given on August 1st, 2014, the EIA study of Tia Maria project was approved meeting the technical requirements for the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines and the environmental local regulations.
Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE and LSE: SCCO) announced on Aug 4th, 2014 that this project will request an investment of approximately $1.4 billion and the Company expects to start works on it by the end of this year.
Source: Geoservice Ingeniería and Southern Peru Cooper Corporation
According to directorial resolution Nº392-2014-MEM/DGAAM given on August 1st, 2014, the EIA study of Tia Maria project was approved meeting the technical requirements for the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines and the environmental local regulations.
Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE and LSE: SCCO) announced on Aug 4th, 2014 that this project will request an investment of approximately $1.4 billion and the Company expects to start works on it by the end of this year.
Source: Geoservice Ingeniería and Southern Peru Cooper Corporation
2010
US$ 160.7K
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Schlumberger Water Services Peru
The EIA is presented in 13 sections covering among the main ones project description, physical and biological base line, social and cultural base line, citizen participation, analysis of alternatives, evaluation impact, plan of environmental and social management, closure and analysis plan cost benefit others.
The EIA contemplates using seawater in conjunction with a desalination plant for the supply of water to the operations plant. The uptake of seawater is planned to be on the beach located at the north of El Sombrero town.
The project includes two pits, the first one called La Tapada with a total reserves defined in the mine design of 445 million tons of oxide ore at an average grade of 0.434% Cu. In Tia Maria pit, total extractable reserves defined in the mine design included 193 million tons of oxide ore at an average grade of 0.304% Cu.
Source: Schlumberger Water Services Peru
The EIA contemplates using seawater in conjunction with a desalination plant for the supply of water to the operations plant. The uptake of seawater is planned to be on the beach located at the north of El Sombrero town.
The project includes two pits, the first one called La Tapada with a total reserves defined in the mine design of 445 million tons of oxide ore at an average grade of 0.434% Cu. In Tia Maria pit, total extractable reserves defined in the mine design included 193 million tons of oxide ore at an average grade of 0.304% Cu.
Source: Schlumberger Water Services Peru
2010
US$ 139.5K
2009
Pulley Assemblies
RAS Industries Ltd
RAS Industries Ltd. provided 87 Engineered Class Pulley Assemblies to Southern Copper Tia Maria project on Dec 2009. The delivery followed previous orders of 33 Engineered Class Pulley Assemblies on Sep 2009 and 22 Engineered Class Pulley Assemblies back on Dec 2008.
From in plant pulleys to the largest overland ones, RAS Industries Ltd. engineered pulley assemblies are world renowned for their exceptional quality and guaranteed reliability. Designed with RAS proprietary software, P-Flex and 3D parametric modelling, RAS Industries Ltd. pulleys use high strength alloy steels to deliver a lighter and stronger product that is designed for infinite life.
Source: RAS Industries Ltd.
From in plant pulleys to the largest overland ones, RAS Industries Ltd. engineered pulley assemblies are world renowned for their exceptional quality and guaranteed reliability. Designed with RAS proprietary software, P-Flex and 3D parametric modelling, RAS Industries Ltd. pulleys use high strength alloy steels to deliver a lighter and stronger product that is designed for infinite life.
Source: RAS Industries Ltd.
2008
US$ 150M
SX (Solvent Extraction) Plant
Outotec
Outotec has agreed with Southern Peru Copper Corporation (SPCC) for the delivery of a copper solvent extraction and electrowinning (SXEW) plant for SPCC Tía María project in Arequipa region in Peru. The contract value is USD 150 million.
Outotec scope of delivery covers basic and detail engineering, proprietary equipment and services for the construction supervision and commissioning.
Source: Outotec
Outotec scope of delivery covers basic and detail engineering, proprietary equipment and services for the construction supervision and commissioning.
Source: Outotec
2008
US$ 250M
Crushing Plant
FLSmidth Minerals
The contract worth over USD 250 million includes design, engineering, equipment supply, spare parts and commissioning. The greenfield copper plant will be located near Arequipa in southern Peru some 1,000 kilometres southeast of Lima.
FLSmidth will mainly contribute materials handling and crushing equipment to the project. The scope of supply includes a complete gyratory crusher station, an overland conveyor, a secondary/tertiary crushing plant, an ore spreading system to form the leaching pads and a large bucket wheel reclaimer.
Source: FLSmidth
FLSmidth will mainly contribute materials handling and crushing equipment to the project. The scope of supply includes a complete gyratory crusher station, an overland conveyor, a secondary/tertiary crushing plant, an ore spreading system to form the leaching pads and a large bucket wheel reclaimer.
Source: FLSmidth
4150Crushing Plant Capacity (tonnes/h)
2008
US$ 139.5K
Detailed engineering
JRI Group
Specialized engineering services, in the modality of open contract, for the wet area of the Tía María project, which was developed by Outotec for Southern Peru Copper Corporation.
Source: JRI Ingeniería
Source: JRI Ingeniería
2007
US$ 108K
Feasibility studies
Bechtel
A feasibility study for the Tia Maria project was completed by Betchel in Nov 2007. The new operating unit considers a daily mine mineral production of 100,000 metric tons per day and will begin production with the La Tapada deposit in order to produce a 120,000 metric tons of copper cathodes per year.
Metallurgical test for Tia Maria and La Tapada, with larger 8 meter tall columns, were completed during November covering 36,232 meters of diamond drilling at Tia Maria and 73,085 meters at La Tapada. Estimated mineralized resources in Tia Maria show 193 million tons of mineralized material with 0.302% copper content. For La Tapada, the estimated mineralized resources show 445 million tons of mineralized material, with 0.434% copper content.
Source: Southern Peru
Metallurgical test for Tia Maria and La Tapada, with larger 8 meter tall columns, were completed during November covering 36,232 meters of diamond drilling at Tia Maria and 73,085 meters at La Tapada. Estimated mineralized resources in Tia Maria show 193 million tons of mineralized material with 0.302% copper content. For La Tapada, the estimated mineralized resources show 445 million tons of mineralized material, with 0.434% copper content.
Source: Southern Peru
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Snapshot
Capital Expenditure
US$ 1.4B
Project Status
Suspension
Production starting date
March 2017
Environment Impact Study Approval Date
August 2014
Mineral reserves (Million Tonnes)
193
Metals mined
Copper
Life of Mine LoM (Years)
20
Type of Ore Body
Porphyritic
Copper Annual Output (Tonnes)
120000
Copper Mineral Reserves
0.302%
Electricity Requirement (MW)
100
Top Contractors
FLSmidth Minerals
Outotec
Geoservice Ingeniería
Bechtel
Schlumberger Water Services Peru