Canada’s Atico Mining has set its 2020 copper guidance at 20-21mn lb (9,071-9,525mt). Copper production at Atico’s El Robel Mine in Columbia was down 3pc to 5.62mn lb in the December quarter compared to the prior year. In 2019, annual copper production was 16.8mn lb, down by 23pc from 2018.
Atico has successfully completed scaling-up the El Roble mine from the original nominal capacity of 400 up to 850 tonnes per day.
There was a 75-day strike at the mine in the first two quarters, however, the company was able to recover and exceed the adjusted 2019 operational guidance.
El Roble mine has proven and probable reserves of 1.47mn mt grading 3.40pc copper and 1.88g/t gold, at a cut-off grade of 1.93pc copper equivalent, as of June 30, 2018.