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Anglo American anticipates 30% drop at key Chile copper mine in 2025

Anglo American's copper output at its Los Bronces mine in Chile is anticipated to fall nearly a third from typical historic levels next year as the miner stops briefly a processing plant for maintenance, the company's. Chile head stated on Tuesday.

Anglo American previously said it would suspend the plant,. which is the smaller and older of two at the site, in mid-2024,. however had not revealed the estimated hit on production.

Los Bronces is Anglo American's flagship copper mine,. representing about a 4th of its copper output worldwide,. which covers several websites in Chile and Peru.

Demand for the red-metal has risen worldwide, and BHP. made an unsuccessful $49 billion offer for rival Anglo. American this year in a play for its smaller sized competitor's. copper mines.

The maintenance on the processing plant is expected to take. at least a number of years, said Patricio Hidalgo, CEO of Anglo. American in Chile, at an occasion.

It will depend on the input and the ore grade, so it's not. one-to-one, however it has to do with 30% since next year, compared to what. we historically have produced, he told press reporters.

Anglo American is intending to make up for falling. production levels dinged by hard, lower grade ore, and intends to. begin new extraction in 2027, after delays due to permitting and. other elements.

Suspending the processing plant, called Los Bronces, will. give the company time to continue with preparations for brand-new. extraction phases, consisting of protecting an extra water system. and moving the Perez Caldera tailings dam.

It opens a window for us, Hidalgo stated. We need to see. when the ideal window of time is to remove the dam.

Los Bronces is majority owned by the miner's regional system,. Anglo American Sur, with a stake just over 50%. A joint venture. between Japan's Mitsui and Chile's state-run Codelco. owns almost 30%, while Japan's Mitsubishi owns the. rest.

(source: Reuters)