Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In

Geomechanics.io

Geomechanics, Simplified.

© 2025 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

Geomechanics.io

CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

Industries

MiningConstructionTunnelling

Company

Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    AllGeotechnicalMiningInfrastructureMaterialsHazardsEnvironmentalSoftwarePolicy
    Projects
    Contract Award

    Codelco–Glencore Chile smelter: design, logistics and capex notes for mine planners

    December 3, 2025|

    Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

    Codelco–Glencore Chile smelter: design, logistics and capex notes for mine planners

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    Codelco has signed an MoU with Glencore for a new Chilean copper smelter designed to treat 1.5 million dry metric tonnes of concentrate per year, with Codelco committing up to 800,000 tonnes of feed annually while Glencore handles design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance. A pre-feasibility study is starting now, with a binding agreement targeted for the first half of next year, construction from 2030 and start-up between 2032 and 2033. Locating the plant near multiple copper producers is intended to cut concentrate haulage, improve operational flexibility and keep refining value in-country.

    Technical Brief

    • Plant is specified to treat 1.5 million dry metric tonnes of copper concentrate annually under “strict environmental standards”.
    • Codelco’s supply commitment of up to 800,000 t/y leaves ~700,000 t/y capacity for third‑party concentrates.
    • Glencore’s scope covers full EPC+O&M responsibility, shifting construction and operational risk off Codelco’s balance sheet.
    • Codelco explicitly excludes direct build or financing, signalling an offtake‑plus‑tolling style participation rather than ownership.
    • Partner selection followed a competitive tender, indicating multiple technical/commercial smelter proposals were evaluated for Chilean conditions.
    • Locating the smelter near existing copper producers is intended to shorten concentrate haulage routes and reduce logistics costs.

    Our Take

    With Chile already accounting for about 70% of global mine production in the referenced column, a 1.5 Mt/y smelter backed by Codelco and Glencore would further lock in Latin America’s role not just as an ore supplier but as a processing hub, complementing the EU–IDB critical minerals value-chain push highlighted in the 2 December Latin America funding piece.

    Glencore’s involvement here echoes its presence in the Osisko Metals Gaspé copper financing, signalling that the trader–miner is positioning across both upstream copper projects and downstream processing, which could give it stronger leverage over concentrate flows from regions like Congo into Chilean smelting capacity.

    The long lead time to a potential 2030 construction start and 2032–33 operations means this Chilean copper and cobalt-capable facility is being timed for the next investment cycle in critical minerals, rather than today’s market, which operators should factor into long-term offtake and decarbonisation planning.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Northern Star gold hubs: deep extensions and design takeaways for mine planners
    Mining
    about 9 hours ago

    Northern Star gold hubs: deep extensions and design takeaways for mine planners

    Northern Star Resources reports strong exploration results across its Australian hubs, with deep extensions and high‑grade gold intercepts at operations including Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines in Western Australia. Drilling has identified mineralisation continuing at depth beneath existing workings, with multiple emerging zones that could support life‑of‑mine extensions and higher‑grade feed to existing mills. For mine planners and geotechs, the focus now shifts to underground access design, ground support in deeper stress regimes, and sequencing to integrate new stopes into current production.

    Regis WA exploration pipeline: mine life and design takeaways for planners
    Mining
    about 9 hours ago

    Regis WA exploration pipeline: mine life and design takeaways for planners

    Regis Resources is flagging a “significant pipeline” of near-mine and regional exploration targets across its Duketon and Tropicana gold operations in Western Australia, aiming to extend mine life and lift mill feed quality. The company is focusing on brownfields drilling around existing open pits and underground workings, plus greenfields prospects along under-tested shear zones within its Duketon belt and the Tropicana joint venture corridor. For geotechs and mine planners, the message is to expect ongoing resource definition drilling, updated pit shells and potential underground studies rather than major new project footprints.

    Harmony Eva copper project: Metso contract design implications for mine engineers
    Mining
    about 9 hours ago

    Harmony Eva copper project: Metso contract design implications for mine engineers

    Harmony Gold has advanced its Eva copper project in Queensland by awarding Metso a major equipment contract as the greenfield mine moves towards site construction. The deal covers key comminution and processing plant components, with Metso to supply crushing and grinding equipment sized for large-scale copper throughput at one of Australia’s biggest planned copper developments. The contract signals design lock-in for the process flowsheet and allows detailed engineering, foundation design and construction scheduling to proceed on a firmer basis.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    Construction

    Quality control software for construction companies with material testing, batch tracking, and compliance management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.