Mining Intelligence and News
Peru

Las Bambas Mine

Click for more information

Categories

Summary

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Molybdenum
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start2015
Mine Life2042
SnapshotLas Bambas is a world-class copper mine that also produces molybdenum, silver, and by-product gold. It operates as a truck-and-shovel mining operation with a conventional copper concentrator.

The Chalcobamba development, located approximately three kilometres from the existing processing plant at Las Bambas, is crucial to the planned annual production increase. The mine began early work with community companies at the Chalcobamba pit in early February 2024, and the plant has received a stable supply of ore from the Chalcobamba pit since the second half of 2024.

Studies are ongoing to extend mine life.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
CITIC Metal Co. Ltd 15 % Indirect
Guoxin International Investment Co. Ltd 22.5 % Indirect
MMG Ltd. (operator) 62.5 % Indirect
Las Bambas is a joint venture project between the operator MMG (62.5%), a wholly owned subsidiary of Guoxin International Investment Co. Ltd (22.5%), and CITIC Metal Co. Ltd (15.0%). Minera Las Bambas S.A. is a non-wholly owned subsidiary of MMG and the owner of the Las Bambas mine.

Contractors

ContractorContractDescriptionRef. DateSource
Peru national energy grid Power supply High voltage (220kV) electrical power is sourced from the national grid from the Cotaruse substation to Las Bambas, with two redundant power lines with a capacity of 185MW each. Jun 30, 2024
unawarded or unknown Drilling & Blasting Contracts were finalised for blasting and drilling services. Jun 30, 2023

Deposit type

  • Skarn
  • Porphyry

Summary:

Las Bambas is located in a belt of Cu (Mo-Au) skarn deposits associated with porphyry type systems situated in south-eastern Peru. This metallogenic belt is controlled by the Andahuaylas-Yauri Batholith of Eocene- Oligocene age, which is emplaced in Mesozoic sedimentary units, with the Ferrobamba Formation (Lower-to-Upper Cretaceous) being of greatest mineralising importance.

The porphyry style mineralisation occurs in quartz-monzonite to granodiorite rocks. Hypogene copper sulphides are the main copper bearing minerals with minor occurrence of supergene copper oxides and carbonates near surface. The intrusive rocks of the batholith in contact with the Ferrobamba limestones gave rise to contact metamorphism and, in certain locations, skarn bodies with Cu (Mo-Au) mineralisation.

Dimensions
The Las Bambas Mineral Resources comprise three distinct deposits; each have been defined by drilling and estimated:
o Ferrobamba Mineral Resources occupies a footprint which is 2500m N-S and 1800m E-W and over 900m vertically.
o Chalcobamba Mineral Resources occupies a footprint of 2300m N-S and 1300m E-W and 800m vertically
o Sulfobamba Mineral Resources is 1800m along strike in a NE direction and 850m across strike in a NW direction and 450m deep.

Ferrobamba Deeps is a vertical extension of Ferrobamba downwards (same XY dimensions), with similar geological features, extending until level 2200RL; the lowest level of the Resource open pit-shell is 3200RL.

Reserves at June 30, 2024

Las Bambas Ore Reserves cut-off grades:
Ferrobamba Primary Copper - NSR cut-off 12.42 USD/t;
Chalcobamba Primary Copper - NSR cut-off 12.44 USD/t;
Sulfobamba Primary Copper - NSR cut-off 14.12 USD/t.

Las Bambas Mineral Resources cut-off grades:
Ferrobamba Oxide Copper and Chalcobamba Oxide Copper - 1% Cu Cut-off grade contained within a US$4.9/lb pit shell;
Ferrobamba Primary Copper - NSR cut-off 12.42US$/t;
Chalcobamba Primary Copper - NSR cut-off 12.44US$/t;
Sulfobamba Primary Copper - NSR cut-off 14.12US$/t.

Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
CategoryTonnage CommodityGradeContained Metal
Proven & Probable 760 Mt Copper 0.6 % 4,600 kt
Proven & Probable 760 Mt Molybdenum 160 ppm 120 kt
Proven & Probable 760 Mt Gold 0.03 g/t 0.83 M oz
Proven & Probable 760 Mt Silver 2.7 g/t 66 M oz
Total Resource 1,900 Mt Copper 0.49 % 9,400 kt
Total Resource 1,900 Mt Molybdenum 170 ppm 320 kt
Total Resource 1,900 Mt Gold 0.02 g/t 1.5 M oz
Total Resource 1,900 Mt Silver 2.2 g/t 140 M oz

Mining Methods

  • Truck & Shovel / Loader

Summary:

Mining of the Las Bambas deposits is undertaken by open pit method, which is expected to continue throughout the life of mine.

Underground options are under evaluation to extend the Life of Mine, through the inclusion of Ferrobamba Deeps resources in 2024, supported by an economically positive Scoping Study which has been executed by Redco Global Peru S.A.C., at the beginning of 2024, under the supervision of Las Bambas key people of the Strategic Planning team.

The mining method selected for the Las Bambas operation is open cut mining, which enables bulk mining of these large low to moderate grade mineral deposits that are outcropping to sub-cropping. Three deposits, Ferrobamba, Chalcobamba and Sulfobamba are each mined in separate open pits. Mining is by way of conventional truck and shovel operation. This method and selected mining equipment are appropriate for these deposits.

In the pit, the minimum mining width is 70m; the Selective Mining Unit (SMU) has been set at 20m x 20m x 15m.

The Chalcobamba development, located approximately three kilometres from the existing processing plant at Las Bambas, is crucial to an annual production increase to a range of 350,000 to 400,000 tonnes. The mine began early work with community companies at the Chalcobamba pit in early February 2024, and the plant has received a stable supply of ore from the Chalcobamba pit since the second half of 2024.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

HME TypeModelQuantityRef. DateSource
Drill Atlas Copco 2 Apr 30, 2017
Drill Caterpillar 2 Apr 30, 2017
Drill P&H 4 Apr 30, 2017
Loader LeTourneau L2350 Apr 30, 2017
Shovel P&H 4100 2 Apr 30, 2017
Shovel Caterpillar 7495 2 Apr 30, 2017
Shovel Caterpillar 6060 3 Apr 30, 2017
Truck (haul) 24 May 20, 2025
Truck (haul) Caterpillar 797 6 Apr 30, 2017
Truck (haul) - EV Komatsu 930E 44 Apr 30, 2017
EV - Electric

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

TypeModelSizePowerQuantity
Ball mill 3

Summary:

Las Bambas’ third ball mill was successfully commissioned during the fourth quarter of 2022.

Processing

  • Crush & Screen plant
  • Flotation
  • Dewatering

Summary:

Metallurgical copper concentration process comprises the following activities: crushing, grinding and flotation, producing copper and molybdenum concentrates. Copper concentrates contain gold and silver as by-products.

The ore is crushed and transported on a 5.5-kilometre overland conveyor to a conventional flotation plant where copper concentrate is produced, then to a molybdenum plant for further processing. Concentrate is then transported by truck and rail to the Port of Matarani in the Arequipa region, where it is shipped to customers worldwide.

Recoveries & Grades:

CommodityParameter202420232022202120202019201820172016
Copper Recovery Rate, % 86.786.285.386.98788.186.284.377.1
Copper Head Grade, % 0.720.660.670.690.790.840.91.050.93
Copper Concentrate Grade, % 28.534.433.833.634.838.537.938.136
Molybdenum Concentrate Grade, % 45.946.54847.647.54748.949.2
Molybdenum Recovery Rate, % 79.580.1

Water Supply

Summary:

Las Bambas authorised use of water runoff from the Chalhuahuacho River. Water recycling and re-use within the mine eliminates negative impacts with any discharge meeting relevant Peruvian environmental standards.

Water supply is sufficient for site and processing, sourced from the following: rainfall and runoff into Chuspiri dam, groundwater wells, contact waters, recirculating water in the process plant, pump station from Challhuahuacho River off-take structure.

Commodity Production

Copper and Molybdenum numbers are reported as production. Silver and Gold numbers are reported as sales.
CommodityProductUnits2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Copper Metal in concentrate t 360,000-400,000 ^322,912 302,033 254,836 290,097 311,020 382,518 385,299 453,749 330,227 
Copper Concentrate kt 1,1348787548638939941,0181,192926
Molybdenum Metal in concentrate t 3,1083,8103,5324,9853,1671,7831,9611,431
Molybdenum Concentrate kt 6.88.27.4106.73.842.9
Gold Payable metal oz 56,17094,92562,90159,67372,86091,439107,850129,724
Silver Payable metal oz 3,534,9905,361,3263,293,3643,581,1854,092,8724,581,7145,483,7966,350,308
^ Guidance / Forecast.

Operational metrics

Metrics202420232022202120202019201820172016
Ore tonnes mined 63,819,945 t46,429,483 t43,178,984 t59,878,802 t57,999,845 t51,653,616 t57,439,971 t52,873,113 t46,910,080 t
Waste 122,617,927 t122,908,814 t116,206,593 t135,003,377 t137,484,467 t128,286,976 t115,709,415 t
Tonnes milled 51,586,909 t52,871,670 t44,043,203 t48,476,799 t45,184,395 t51,283,371 t49,443,867 t51,497,642 t46,502,808 t

Production Costs

CommodityUnits202520242023202220212020201920182017
C1 cash costs Copper USD 1.6 / lb ^ **   1.51 / lb **   1.6 / lb **   1.53 / lb **   1.02 / lb **   1 / lb **   0.99 / lb **   1.18 / lb **   0.99 / lb **  
^ Guidance / Forecast.
** Net of By-Product.

Mine Financials

Units202520242023202220212020201920182017
Capital expenditures (planned) M USD 575  
Revenue M USD 2,978  3,417  2,087  2,965  2,079   2,013   2,579   2,937  
After-tax Income M USD 527.6  301  189.5  675.6  187.5   93.6  
EBIT M USD 832.1  596.7  456.2  1,315  500.8   540.7   699.7   1,151  
EBITDA M USD 1,594  1,397  1,122  2,047  1,196   1,237   1,341   1,741  

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
Operations Superintendent Abdon Guillen Medina LinkedIn May 20, 2025
Operations Superintendent Derly Sandy Vizcarra Arias LinkedIn May 20, 2025
Plant Manager Edgar Canta LinkedIn May 20, 2025
Project Superintendent Henry Rondon LinkedIn May 20, 2025

Workforce

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
2,696 7,939 10,635 2024
2,578 5,695 8,273 2023
2,623 4,798 7,421 2022
2,672 2,995 5,667 2021
2,205 4,164 6,369 2020
1,792 3,999 5,791 2019
1,900 6,800 8,700 2018
1,726 6,568 8,294 2017
9,134 2016

Aerial view: