Capstone Copper’s Mantoverde Mine to Lose Up to 4,000 Tonnes of Copper Concentrate
Capstone Copper’s Mantoverde mine in Chile is experiencing a temporary production slowdown due to dual ball mill motor failures, with repairs expected to take about four weeks and production halved during this period.
- Dual ball mill motor failures at Mantoverde mine
- Estimated four-week repair period
- Production operating at approximately half capacity
- Expected copper concentrate shortfall of 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes
- Mitigation plans underway including rescheduling maintenance
Unexpected Equipment Failures Disrupt Mantoverde Operations
Capstone Copper Corp. has disclosed a significant operational hiccup at its Mantoverde copper-gold mine in Chile, where both ball mill drive motors have failed within a week. The first failure occurred on August 24, and despite a swift replacement with a spare motor, the second motor failed on August 30. This double setback has forced the mine to operate at reduced capacity, impacting sulphide copper production.
Repair Timeline and Production Impact
The company estimates that repairs will take approximately four weeks, during which Mantoverde will run at about half its usual capacity by bypassing the ball mill, a contingency mode the team has previously executed successfully. This operational adjustment is expected to result in a shortfall of between 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes of copper concentrate, a material impact given the mine’s contribution to Capstone’s overall output.
Mitigation Strategies and Forward Outlook
Capstone is actively pursuing mitigation strategies, including rescheduling planned plant maintenance to coincide with the downtime, thereby minimizing further disruptions. The company is also investigating the root cause of the motor failures to prevent recurrence and is advancing plans for motor replacement and repair. While the situation is challenging, Capstone’s proactive approach aims to restore full production capacity as efficiently as possible.
Broader Context and Company Profile
Capstone Copper, headquartered in Vancouver, operates several copper mining assets across the Americas, including the Pinto Valley mine in the US and the Cozamin and Mantos Blancos mines in Mexico and Chile, respectively. Mantoverde, located in Chile’s Atacama region, represents a key asset, with Capstone holding a 70% stake. The company’s strategy focuses on growth through operational excellence and innovation, making this production interruption a notable challenge to its near-term output goals.
Investors and market watchers will be closely monitoring Capstone’s updates as the repair progresses and mitigation plans unfold, given the potential implications for copper supply and pricing in a market already sensitive to production disruptions.
Bottom Line?
Capstone’s ability to swiftly repair and mitigate this motor failure will be critical to maintaining its production momentum and market confidence.
Questions in the middle?
- What is the root cause of the dual motor failures at Mantoverde?
- Could this incident signal broader equipment reliability issues at Capstone’s operations?
- How will this production shortfall affect Capstone’s full-year copper output guidance?
