Here are the ten largest surface mining projects by production in South and Central America in 2021, according to GlobalData’s mining database.
1. Cerro Verde Mine
The Cerro Verde Mine is a copper mining project in Arequipa, Peru. The brownfield project is owned by Freeport-McMoRan and is due to operate until 2051. The mine produced an estimated 162.2Mt of ROM in 2021. It had an estimated production of 402.3 thousand tonnes of copper in 2021.
2. Escondida Mine
The Escondida Mine is a copper mine owned by BHP. Located in Antofagasta, Chile, the greenfield mine produced approximately 141.8Mt of ROM in 2021. It had an estimated production of 1,011 thousand tonnes of copper in 2021. The expected mine closure date is 2078.
3. Serra Norte Mining Complex
Located in Para, Brazil, the Serra Norte Mining Complex is an iron ore mining project owned by Vale. The mine is expected to operate until 2038.
The greenfield mine produced an estimated 110.3Mt of ROM in 2021. It had an estimated production of 109.3 million tonnes of iron ore in the same year.
4. Collahuasi Mine
The Collahuasi Mine is a copper mine located in Tarapaca, Chile. Owned by Glencore Plc, the brownfield project produced an estimated 102.4Mt of ROM in 2021.
The mine had an estimated production of 630 thousand tonnes of copper in 2021. The Collahuasi Mine will operate until 2088.
5. Carajas Serra Sul S11D Project
Owned by Vale, the Carajas Serra Sul S11D Project is an iron ore mine situated in Para, Brazil. The mine is expected to operate until 2062.
The ROM production at the mine produced was approximately 88.3Mt of ROM in 2021. It had an estimated production of 73.7 million tonnes of iron ore in 2021.
6. Cobre Panama Project
The Cobre Panama Project is a copper mining project in Colon, Panama. The greenfield project is owned by First Quantum Minerals and is due to operate until 2054. The mine produced an estimated 78.8Mt of ROM in 2021. It had an estimated production of 302 thousand tonnes of copper in 2021.
7. Buenavista del Cobre Mine
The Buenavista del Cobre Mine is a copper mine owned by Grupo Mexico Sde CV. Located in Sonora, Mexico, the brownfield mine produced approximately 73.4Mt of ROM in 2021. It had an estimated production of 327.3 thousand tonnes of copper in 2021.
8. MVC Copper Project
Located in Cachapoal, Chile, the MVC Copper Project is a copper mining project owned by Amerigo Resources. The mine is expected to operate until 2037.
The brownfield mine produced an estimated 60.9Mt of ROM in 2021. It had an estimated production of 29.6 thousand tonnes of copper in the same year.
9. Itabira Mining Complex
The Itabira Mining Complex is an iron ore mine located in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Owned by Vale, the greenfield project produced an estimated 60.5Mt of ROM in 2021.
The mine had an estimated production of 28.7 million tonnes of iron ore in 2021. The Itabira Mining Complex will operate until 2041.
10. Las Bambas Project
Owned by China Minmetals, the Las Bambas Project is a copper mine situated in Apurimac, Peru. The mine is expected to operate until 2038.
The ROM production at the mine produced was approximately 59.9Mt of ROM in 2021. It had an estimated production of 383.6 thousand tonnes of copper in 2021.
Methodology:
This information is drawn from GlobalData’s mines and projects database, which tracks all operating and developing mines and projects globally. Verdict’s parent company GlobalData provides business information to 4,000 of the world’s largest companies.
