Engineering firm Wood has been awarded a contract by Antofagasta Minerals S.A (AMSA) for its Nueva Centinela copper project. Located in the Antofagasta region of Chile, the contract will see Wood support AMSA in expanding the Esperanza Sur pit.
Wood will manage the construction of a new concentrator, ore crushing facility, conveyor systems, seawater pipeline, tailing disposal and facility expansions as well as other necessary infrastructure at the Centinela port. The project forms part of AMSA’s $4.4 billion investment into the Minera Centinela facility.
“This award underlines the strength of our mineral processing capability and experience of delivering end-to-end EPCM services for complex, large-scale projects,” said Jim Shaughnessy, president of minerals, metals and life sciences for Wood.
The project will position Centinela to become one of the top 15 copper mines in the world by output, producing an additional 170,000 metric tons per year (copper equivalent). First production is expected in 2027 with work commencing in May 2024.
