Market Survey on Copper - Indian Bureau of Mines

India which is already in trade with Brazil can look forward for importing concentrate
for fulfilling the demand for its smelters.
Chile
Chile is the most important country as far as copper is concerned. It holds the
strategic position in the world copper scenario. Chile is at the top position in the
world resources tally with huge reserves of 160 million tonnes of contained copper
contributing about 30% of the world reserves. Most of the leading copper mines are
located in the northern part of the country. There are four important deposits of
copper in Chile namely, Chuquicamata, Portrerillos, Braden or El Teniente and El
Salvador. Most of the copper deposits in Chile are porphyry copper deposits formed
by hydrothermal replacement.
In 2008 many of the World’s leading private mining companies, which included
BHP Biliton plc., Rio Tinto plc., Japan Escondida Corp., Anglo American plc.,
Xstrata plc., Antofagsta plc., etc. were deeply involved in the copper mining in Chile.
The important amongst them were BHP Biliton plc, and Japan Escondida Corp. These
companies were involved in the Escondida open pit mine which was the largest
copper mine in Chile with a capacity of 1.45 million tonnes. Corporation Nacional
del Cobre (CODELCO), a Company wholly owned by Government was involved in
the mining at Chuquicamata, Minerasur and Radomiro Tomic mines with a total
capacity of 900 thousand tonnes per year. CODELCO was also involved in mining in
El Teniente, Ventanas, Andina and El Salvador divisions. Another company
Empressa Nacional de Mineria (ENAMI) wholly owned by Government was engaged
in concentration plants at Manuel Antonio Matta, Paipotte Oswaldo Martinez etc. and
Hernan Videla Lira smelter producing anodes and blister copper with an annual
capacity of 340, 000 tonnes.
The production of ores and concentrates of copper in the country was around 5
million tonnes gross weight since last five years and has shown an increasing trend
generally. In 2008 the production came down to 5.33 million tonnes from 5.56
million tonnes in 2007 owing to the decrease in production at CODELCO mine. The
production at Escondida mine also decreased from 1.48 million tonnes in 2007 to 1.25
million tonnes in 2008. Chile was the top producer of copper ores and concentrates
and produced 5.39 million tonnes in 2009.
The mine production of copper was 4.90 million tonnes in 2003 rose to the level
of 5.39 million tonnes in 2009 contributing 34.39% in total world mine production of
copper. There was a considerable decrease in smelter production since 2003. The
smelter production of copper was 1.5 million tonnes in 2003 which came down to
1.37 million tonnes in 2008 and again increased to 1.52 million tonnes in 2009.
The production of blister and anode copper and refined copper was above 1.5
million tonnes and 2.8 million tonnes respectively since last seven years. Chile was at
the top position in smelter production for copper till 2004 but since 2005 China has
surpassed Chile in smelter production of copper and Chile now occupies third
position. Codelco, the state mining company, Enami, Minera Escondida, etc. are the
major contributors in Chile's production of copper.
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