Operations
Operations
MVC transforms environmental liabilities into an economic asset.
Amerigo’s 100% owned MVC operation in Chile has been producing copper concentrates since 1992 by processing fresh and historic tailings from Codelco’s El Teniente mine, the world’s largest underground copper mine.
Amerigo has successfully completed the development of the historic high grade Cauquenes tailings deposit. This investment has enabled MVC to produce substantially more copper at lower cash cost to at least 2037. The Cauquenes Phase One project was completed in December 2015 and the Cauquenes Phase Two project was completed in December 2018. In exchange for the tailings rights granted to MVC, El Teniente is entitled to a royalty on the copper produced by MVC, determined through a sliding scale formula tied to the London Metal Exchange copper price.
MVC is leading the way in Chile and within the mining industry worldwide with a 100% renewable-powered operation as certified by the International REC (Renewable Energy Certificate) Standard.
MVC Key Data
| Ownership | Amerigo owns 100% of MVC |
| Commodity | Copper plus molybdenum |
| Location | Central Chile, 90 km south of Santiago |
| Life of operation | 1992 to at least 2037 |
| Deposit type | Tailings from Codelco’s El Teniente underground mine
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| Mining/extraction method |
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| Mineral processing method | Conventional grinding and flotation to produce concentrates (El Teniente is responsible for final tailings impoundment) |
Established Technology and Expertise at MVC
