Exploration and Development

摘要

Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold confirmed it put plans to extend the life of the El Abra mine in Chile back on track. CRU forecasts the extended operation will have a capacity of around 148,000t/y of copper cathodes and will operate from 2012. On 6~(th) October, Rio Tinto and Ivanhoe Mines signed an agreement with the Government of Mongolia over the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold project. The government will have an equity stake of 34 percent with the balance held by Ivanhoe Mines. Following the deal Rio Tinto purchased a further 9.95 percent stake in Ivanhoe Minerals, for 388 Million US dollars, taking its share to 19.9 percent. CRU forecasts the Oyu Tolgoi project will start up in 2013 and produce around 436,000 t/y of copper-in-concentrates.