JX Nippon Mining & Metals recently signed an agreement to purchase the stake in the Caserones copper mine, owned by its partners Mitsui & Co. and Mitsui Mining and Smelting, for an undisclosed amount. Mitsui Kinzoku currently owns 25.87% of the mine, while Mitsui & Co. hold 22.63%. The mine is located in northern Chile, near the border of Argentina.
JX Nippon said its goal is to maintain and expand production volume, as well as extend mine life by investing in automation using Internet of Things technology.
“The copper concentrate from the Caserones copper mine is a valuable resource for the JX Nippon Mining & Metals Group smelting and refining facilities,” the company said. “As the copper grade of ores worldwide declines and impurities are on the increase, the value of the high-quality and clean Caserones ores is rising.
“Obtaining such excellent copper concentrate is seen as of key importance for the company’s copper smelting and refining business, the core of the metal supply chain from upstream raw material ores to the downstream advanced materials, including recycling.”
