KGHM's Chilean project meets challenges
22:35
In a recent interview with Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, the CEO of KGHM, Herbert Wirth, spoke about challenges and opportunities at their Sierra Gorda copper mine project in Chile.
“From first bore to extraction ten years have passed. We’ve done all of this with the highest labor and environmental protection standards,” said Wirth. “We aim to increase production by 100 thousand tons per year, but we must have cost estimations from our partner, Sumitomo. We will not take a risk, as we cannot allow ourselves to make a mistake.”
Recently, a complaint to the local government threatened to delay the rail transport of copper to a Chilean port. “The lower court’s decision is favorable and we are just waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision. In any case, we have a few alternatives for transport in mind,” said Wirth. KGHM underscores that all decisions regarding the transit of mined copper were in accordance with local law and environmental standards. “There were no objections from the authorities.”
Further trials met by KGHM in Chile, included a strike by a subcontractor, which slowed production. On the other hand, the Chilean Peso depreciated against the US Dollar, thus lowering costs for the project.
