PPC Advances FS of Copper Mines in Peru

Pan Pacific Copper (PPC), a copper smelting joint venture between Nippon Mining & Metals and Mitsui Mining & Smelting, will conclude pre feasibility study (FS) of Caserones copper mine, Peru this summer. The firm started pre-FS of Quechua copper mine, Peru this month. The firm advances FS to start operations of the both mines in 2012.Caserones mine is at 115 kilometers southeast from Copiapo, Chile. PPC originally planned to conclude FS by the end of 2008, construct productive facilities and start operation in 2011 with copper metal output at 110,000-150,000 tonnes per annum. However, prospect tunnel construction was delayed by bad weather in 2007. The tunnel is located at around 4,400 meters elevation to pick sample ores. The commercial ore output is expected to start in 2012 due to the FS delay.