Chile state firm Enami earmarks US$720mn to double smelter capacity
Chilean state minerals company Enami has earmarked US$720mn to double capacity at its Paipote smelter, and now it reportedly wants fellow copper giant Codelco to be involved.
The project, dubbed "Nueva Paipote", increases the smelter capacity to 700,000t/y from current 340,000t. This would allow Enami not only to process the ore from its customers - close to the current capacity figure - but also from third parties and eventually from Codelco, local paper La Tercera reported.
The move follows Chilean President Michelle Bachelet's announcement on June 1 of the commissioning of a study for the construction of a new smelter in Atacama region (III) in the north of the country.
Bachelet said she commissioned Codelco, Enami, state development agency Corfo, and investment promotion agency InvestChile to conduct a joint study for the smelter.
Chile is home to seven smelters, four owned by Codelco, one controlled by Enami, one owned by Glencore (Altonorte) and one by Anglo American (Chagres).
Under new emission standards, scheduled to go into force next year, all smelters need to capture at least 95% of sulfur dioxide and arsenic emissions. However, some officials and industry experts say those standards are already obsolete.
Codelco is working on a US$1.8bn upgrade of its network of smelters to meet the new requirements, while Enami is adapting Paipote to comply with the new rules.
However, Enami would be seeking to go further and develop the Nueva Paipote project with most advanced Chinese technology, to capture about 99% of the emissions, the report said.
CHINESE FUNDING
In a June 19 release, Enami said a mission from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) visited the company interested in the Paipote expansion. The bank would be looking to invest in mineral-metallurgical projects in Atacama.
According to the ICBC's VP, Zhang Hongli, Chile is an important market to Chinese investments.
Apart from the capacity increase, the Nueva Paipote smelter would be able to produce about 200,000t/y of copper cathodes.
"Paipote's increased operations would allow for long-term profitability and sustainability through the incorporation of world-class technology, strengthening the role of development towards the sector," Enami said.
Subscribe to the leading business intelligence platform in Latin America with different tools for Providers, Contractors, Operators, Government, Legal, Financial and Insurance industries.
News in: Mining & Metals (Chile)
How Chile wants to entice private actors to enter its lithium industry
The State is looking to increase lithium production, promote technological development, add value, generate knowledge and form new production chains.
Chile invites private sector to boost lithium production
After months of uncertainty, the government said it will invite private sector players to help develop Chile's lithium sector.
Subscribe to Latin America’s most trusted business intelligence platform.
Other projects in: Mining & Metals (Chile)
Get critical information about thousands of Mining & Metals projects in Latin America: what stages they're in, capex, related companies, contacts and more.
- Project: Montezuma
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 week ago
- Project: Carrizal Alto
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 week ago
- Project: Los Domos
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 week ago
- Project: Santa Beatriz
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 week ago
- Project: Cerro Diablo
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 week ago
- Project: Comahue Mining Project
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 week ago
- Project: Cerrillos Plant Operational Optimization
- Current stage:
- Updated:
2 weeks ago
- Project: Mina San Antonio Mine Project, exploitation at 40,000 tons / month
- Current stage:
- Updated:
5 years ago
- Project: New 2x110 kV Vitacura Providencia Underground Transmission Line
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 year ago
- Project: Operational Modification of Tailings Pullalli Plant Tailings
- Current stage:
- Updated:
3 years ago
Other companies in: Mining & Metals (Chile)
Get critical information about thousands of Mining & Metals companies in Latin America: their projects, contacts, shareholders, related news and more.
- Company: Cerro Alto Ltda.  (Cerro Alto)
-
The description contained in this profile was taken directly from an official source and has not been edited or modified by BNamericas researchers, but may have been automatical...
- Company: New Golden Explorations Chile SPA
- Company: Minera Hemisferio Sur S.C.M.  (Minera Hemisferio Sur)
-
Minera Hemisferio Sur SCM, a subsidiary of the Australian company Southern Hemisphere Mining Limited domiciled in Santiago de Chile, is dedicated to the development of mining pr...
- Company: Minera Llahuín S.C.M.  (Minera Llahuín)
-
Minera Llahuín SCM, the Chilean subsidiary of Australia's Southern Hemisphere Mining, owns 100% of the Llahuín copper-gold porphyry project, located in the Chilean region of Coq...
- Company: Excava Holding SpA  (Excava Holding)
-
The description contained in this profile was taken directly from an official source and has not been edited or modified by BNamericas researchers, but may have been automatical...
- Company: Noracid S.A.  (Noracid)
- Company: Anglo American Chile Ltda.  (Anglo American Chile)
-
Anglo American Chile Ltda., the local subsidiary of multinational resource group Anglo American plc, is one of the largest mining companies in the country. As an integrated copp...
- Company: Compañía Minera West Wall S.C.M.  (West Wall SCM)
-
Compañía Minera West Wall S.C.M., a 50:50 JV between Anglo American Chile Ltda. and Glencore Plc, holds the West Wall copper-molybdenum project in central Chile's Valparaíso reg...