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Chile's Codelco seeks permit for $800 million mine extension

Chilean miner Codelco has asked for an environmental permit to extend the life of its Gabriela Mistral copper mine by more than 25 years with an $800. million investment, the staterun company stated on Monday.

The world's most significant copper miner intends to extend the mine's. life expectancy beyond 2028 to 2055 and end its usage of domestic. land-based water in 2035.

Water is important for several copper mining processes and. many mines in Chile, the world's leading copper producer,. significantly pump seawater directly to their operations to move. away from utilizing water from lakes, rivers and tanks.

Codelco stated it will offer the same quantity of water utilized. by Gabriela Mistral to the northern Chilean region of. Antofagasta, where the mine is located, changing from. land-based water to third-party sources that meet ecological. standards.

The business did not specify what sources would offer the. alternative water system.

Gabriela Mistral, among Codelco's tiniest mines, began. operations in 2008, utilizes practically 4,000 people and produces. about 110,000 metric tons of copper a year, the company says.

To extend the mine's life-span, Codelco prepares to extract. copper oxides and then proceed to sulfides, including salt. in the chlorinated seeping process to enhance recovery rates.

The miner has been struggling to improve production after. quarter-century lows in the past two years, struck by delays at. major growth jobs.

(source: Reuters)