Jul 10 2013
Metso will deliver a significant order consisting of 38 feeders for the major Mexican copper mine Buenavista del Cobre, owned by Grupo Mexico. The order will help to double the mine’s capacity of copper concentrate by securing prompt copper ore feed flow in the mine extension project. The order value is over EUR 7 million.
The belt feeders will be installed at Buenavista del Cobre’s Cananea copper mine, located in Sonora, in Mexico. To assist with the installation and future servicing, Metso will open a new, fully equipped service hub at the mine site.
“This belt feeder order follows our minerals processing equipment contract with Buenavista. The client wanted a reliable, reputable partner to secure the productivity targets of the new mine expansion,” comments Alejandro Castillo, Capital Project Sales Manager, Metso.
“Our industry leading services capabilities also greatly influenced the customer’s decision. In addition to the equipment delivery, we are able to provide the required services support, including the investment for a new on-site service hub,” Castillo adds.
Metso’s equipment deliveries to the Buenavista del Cobre copper mine will be completed during March 2014 with start-up in August 2014. The order is included in Mining and Construction’s second-quarter 2013 orders received.
Feeders to significantly increase capacity
The belt-type feeder order comprises equipment capable of meeting all copper ore feeding challenges after the mine expansion. Five of the feeders are sized 60” x 8.5 m with a capacity of 1260 metric tons per hour, eight are 60” x 8.5 m with a 918 mtph capacity, eight are 72” x 15 m with a 1590 mtph capacity, and sixteen are 36” x 7 m with a 575 mtph capacity.
The feeders will be installed as part of the copper concentrator expansion project that is targeting a capacity increase of 110,000 metric tons per day. After the project, the mine will be able to process up to 200,000 mtph of copper ore daily.
Buenavista del Cobre belongs to the Grupo Mexico holding company, which has a number of mining activities in Mexico, Peru and the USA. Grupo Mexico is the third largest copper producer worldwide and owns the biggest copper reserves globally. The group’s sales in 2012 were over USD 10 billion.