Andina (Rio Blanco/Sur Sur)

As of Mar/10, The 2010 investment plan was approved and totalled US$ 2.3 billion. Key projects in progress: Radomiro Tomic Sulphide deposit, Phase I: 98.7%; Andina Expansion Plan, Phase I: 95%, and Pilar Norte deposit: 96.1%. As at the first quarter, other structural projects were developing basic engineering or feasibility studies. In the case of the Chuquicamata Underground Mine project, Codelco submitted an Environmental Impact Statements to be processed in the Environmental Impact Assessment System.

In 2009, a major result in national exploration was the discovery of La Americana in the Andina district. It is a new ore body extending underground south of the Sur-Sur mine; geological resources include 850 Mt of average grade , 0.63% Cu y 0.03% Mo. In this same district the exploration program found interesting ore intersections in another two areas which will be drilled in 2010.

In 2009 progress was made in building the first stage of the Division expansion, included in the Andina Development Plan – Phase I project, which will increase the mine-plant capacity from 72,000 tpd to 94,000 tpd. It will increase production by approximately 70,000 tons of fine copper per year. It´s expected to start operations in 2010. The US$980 million investment will double the open-pit output and it will deploy a new crush/grind/float line in the underground concentrator at Andina. In August, resources were authorized for the feasibility study on the New Andina – Phase II project which requires an estimated US$4.8 billion investment, it includes expanding the Division´s ore treatment capacity by 150,000 tpd from 94,000 tpd reached with the Development Plan – Phase I, to 240,000 nominal tpd by 2016. The New Andina project will increase production from 260,000 in phase I to 643,000 tons of fine copper per year.