Anglo American is preparing investments of US$24mn for operational improvements at its Peruvian copper mine Quellaveco, which the company considers a cornerstone of its portfolio of world-class copper assets, with a mine plan designed to deliver competitive production for the rest of the decade while at the same time preserving long-term value.

Anglo American is preparing investments of US$24 million (mn) for operational improvements at its Peruvian copper mine Quellaveco, which the company considers a cornerstone of its portfolio of world-class copper assets, with a mine plan designed to deliver competitive production for the rest of the decade while preserving long-term value.

The planned improvements are fundamentally related to the management of contact water in the mine area, where the implementation of a diversion dam, check-dam type retention structures, trenches, ponds and additional access roads is planned, as well as the relocation of some existing ponds.

The company also plans to add a multipurpose platform to optimize and meet operational needs in the mine area, increase the exploration program of the Quellaveco pit by three platforms and their respective drill holes to confirm the presence of minerals in the surrounding area, as well as carry out geological and geotechnical studies, chemical analyses, rock mechanics tests, geophysical prospecting tests, permeability tests, condemnation studies, among others.

It is also planned to install a stockpile to handle surplus material from the mine area components.

The general criterion for the management of non-contact water is to maximize its capture and then discharge these flows into natural watercourses.

The company additionally plans to invest about US$1.65bn in mine modifications to adjust operations to new technical conditions, with changes to the Mine Operations Area, adjacent to the Plant Operations Area.

In the first half of 2026, Quellaveco produced 148,400 t of copper, 5% less than in the same period last year, due to ore grades lower than expected (0.66% versus 0.77%), according to the company’s latest results.

This impact was partially mitigated by stable performance in mining and processing operations, which resulted in higher treatment levels and recovery rates, the company said.

For 2026, Anglo American is keeping its production guidance in Peru unchanged, in a range of 310,000 t to 340,000 t, while for 2027 it is set between 300,000 t and 330,000 t.

Plant optimization in 2027

After five years of operation, Anglo American plans to carry out scheduled maintenance of the concentrator plant in 2027, including the mills and conveyor belts, with a moderate impact on production.

There is significant expansion potential that could sustain production beyond the initial high-grade area. The plant’s original processing capacity was 127,500 t/d. After regulatory approvals to increase processing capacity to 150,000 t/d, the company implemented a debottlenecking strategy that gave the plant design greater flexibility, the company said.

On that basis, a first expansion phase was approved in 2025 that will increase processing to around 142,000 t/d and improve recoveries by late 2026, and includes the installation of a second pebble crusher and additional flotation cells.

(The original version of this content was written in Spanish)