Japan Companies Get Approval for Longer Production at Canada Cu Mine

Mitsubishi Materials, Furukawa, Dowa Holdings and Marubeni Corporation announced on Tuesday Huckleberry copper mine in British Columbia, Canada got approval for production by 2021 from government of British Columbia. The mine, in which the Japanese firms have 50% share, can extend the operation for additional 7 years. The mine plans around 20,000 tonnes per year of copper output as current level. The mine expends around 35 billion yen for the additional years of operation.

The Japanese firms expect around 200,000 tonnes of copper output at Huckleberry copper mine from 2011 through 2021. They expect average annual output is around 20,000 tonnes through 2019. The output would decrease in 2020 and 2021 due to poorer grade of the ore.

Mitsubishi Materials has 31.25 % share in Huckleberry copper mine. Furukawa, Dowa Holdings and Marubeni Corporation have each 6.25% share. Mitsubishi Materials, Furukawa and Dowa Holdings purchase all of the produced ore at the mine. The mine’ copper output would decrease by 14% to around 18,000 tonnes in 2011 from 2010.