Skip to main content

Sulphur 420 Sep-Oct 2025

19 September 2025

Codelco warns Chile’s copper output could stagnate

Codelco warns Chile’s copper output could stagnate

Copper production in Chile may stall at around 5.5 million t/a because of the growing challenges mining companies face, according to Maximo Pacheco, chairman of state-owned Codelco. Deeper mining operations, falling ore grades and rising costs all reduce the chance of overall output increasing, he told an industry conference. Nevertheless, Codelco is pressing ahead with a multi-billion dollar investment programme with the goal of returning to a historic production rate of 1.7 million t/a, compared to the current 1.35 million t/a or so.

Pacheco’s comments, reported by sector journal Mining.com, coincide with the company having evacuated workers from El Teniente in recent days due to an earth tremor, a month after an earthquake caused a rockfall which killed six workers and injured nine. Following that incident, Codelco revised its 2025 production guidance downwards to between 1.34 – 1.37 million tonnes of copper, from a March estimate of 1.37 – 1.40 million tonnes.

Latest in Industrial

SRU commissioned at Petrobrazi refinery

Romanian oil and gas group OMV Petrom has commissioned a new sulphur recovery unit at its Petrobrazi refinery, near the southern city of Ploiesti. Development work on the new SRU began in 2023, and represents the second at the site, treating acid gas produced during the refining process. The euro 45 million investment is part of euro 2 billion of improvements that have been made over the past 20 years as part of the company’s strategy to modernise its refining capabilities, aiming to reduce environmental impact. Last year, the company said it would invest around euro 750 million to build several sustainable fuel plants at the refinery, which are expected to become operational in 2028.

Financing in place for Hail and Ghasha

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), working in partnership with Italy’s Eni and Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production, has completed a structured financing transaction of up to $11 billion for its huge Hail and Ghasha sour gas development. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC’s Managing Director and Group CEO, commented: “This landmark transaction builds on ADNOC’s successful track record of global energy partnerships and unlocks capital to drive progress at Hail and Ghasha, one of the world’s most ambitious offshore gas projects. The exceptional demand from over 20 leading global and regional financial institutions reinforces confidence in ADNOC’s value creation strategy, innovative approach to financing, and expertise in delivering mega projects. Hail and Ghasha is an important contributor to ADNOC’s gas strategy and is on track to generate significant value for ADNOC, our partners, and the UAE, while unlocking important new gas resources for our customers.”

Metso to supply copper smelter

Metso says it has won a €180 million order for the delivery of engineering and key process equipment for a new primary copper smelter investment at an undisclosed location in Asia. The planned production capacity of the copper smelter complex is 300,000 t/a of copper cathodes and 1.1 million t/a of sulphuric acid, based on licensed Outotec® Flash Smelting, PS Converting and Lurec® technologies. It includes the design and supply of key process equipment for the main areas of the smelter complex, and the gas cleaning and sulphuric acid plant, copper electrolytic refinery, and precious metals refinery. The delivery also comprises site services and spares.