Japan Smelters Expand Offshore Copper Mining Operations

Japanese copper smelters expand copper mining operation through investing offshore mines. Escondida mine of Chile increased the output by 18% and Cerro Verde mine of Peru increased the output to 2.7 times in 2007 from 2006. Some mines are suffered from lower grade ore when Los Pelambres of Chile reduced the output by 10%. Escondida mine, of which BHP Billiton controls 57.5%, increased the copper output by 18% to 1.443 million tonnes including concentrate and cathode in 2007 from 2006. The firm increased the output by 77% to 238,000 tonnes for cathode and by 11% to 1.205 million tonnes for concentrate. Collahuasi mien of Chile, in which Anglo American and Xstrata have 40% interest each, increased the copper output by 2.7% to 452,000 tonnes in 2007 from 2006. The mine plans to increase the output to 650,000 tonnes in 2010 and to 1 million tonnes in 2014. Cerro Verde, which is controlled by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, increased the output to 269,000 tonnes in 2007 from 100,000 tonnes. Los Pelambres, in which Japanese companies have 40% interest, reduced the output to 290,000 tonnes in 2007 from 324,000 tonnes in 2006 due to lower grade ore. The mine plans to increase the output to around 330,000 tonnes in 2008 through expansion of process facilities. Antamina mine of Peru also reduced the output by 14% to 330,000 tonnes in 2007 due to lower grade ore from 2006.