The ten companies included in the World Energy Trade ranking, based on Miningintelligence data, are either large or medium-sized enterprises.
The Cobre Panamá mine, owned by First Quantum Minerals, has been included in the ranking of the world’s top ten mines in terms of tons of extracted ore, according to the World Energy Trade report.
It is estimated that this mine will produce approximately 96.24 million tons of copper, silver, gold, and molybdenum ore by the third quarter of 2021, as per production data reported by the Vancouver-based company.
Operated by Minera Panamá, the Cobre Panamá mine is located on the Costa Abajo de Colón, in the districts of Donoso and Omar Torrijos Herrera. It started operations in 2019 and contributes to 3.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Currently, the Cobre Panamá mine is in the process of negotiation with the National Government to establish a new concession contract. However, this process is facing opposition from certain environmental and community groups due to the government’s new policies promoting open-pit metal mining.
The ten companies mentioned in the list, compiled with information provided by Miningintelligence, are either large or medium-sized enterprises, with eight of them being among the top 50 mining companies worldwide.
At the top of the list is the Escondida copper mine, considered the largest in the world in its sector and owned by BHP, the world’s largest mining company.
According to the list’s data, Rio Tinto, the second largest mining company in the world, holds a 30% stake in the mine, which has an average production of 360,000 tons daily. Based on production figures for the first three quarters, it is estimated that Escondida will extract 130.78 million tons of copper, silver, and gold ore in 2021.
In the second place on the list is the Collahuasi mine, a joint venture of Anglo American and Glencore, also located in Chile. It is projected that 104.65 million tons of copper, gold, and silver ore will be extracted this year, a significant increase compared to the 71.9 million tons extracted in 2020.
In the fourth position of the ranking is the Buenavista mine of Southern Copper in Mexico, recognized as the largest silver producer worldwide. According to the report, Southern Copper invested around 1 billion dollars in expanding its main mine for copper, molybdenum, zinc, and silver.
In fifth place on the list is the Las Bambas mine of MMG in Peru, with a projection of 65.26 million tons of copper, silver, gold, and molybdenum ore for 2021. According to the Committee’s data, the mine has faced community opposition this year, as residents blocked a key transportation route. However, communities agreed to lift the roadblock last month after a public meeting with Prime Minister Mirtha Vásquez.
In the sixth place is the Sentinel copper and nickel mine, owned by First Quantum Minerals, located in Zambia. According to the report, the company has suspended its plans to sell a stake in its copper mines in Zambia, and it is expected that Sentinel will extract 56.69 million tons of ore this year.
The copper, silver, gold, and molybdenum Aktogay mine of Kaz Minerals holds the seventh position, with a projection of extracting 53.6 million tons of ore this year.
On the other hand, the Paracatu mine of Kinross Gold in Brazil occupies the eighth position, with a forecast of extracting 52.46 million tons of ore in 2021.
In the ninth place, the Antamina mine, owned by BHP and Glencore, which produces copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, and silver in Peru, is very close to 52.45 million tons of extracted ore.
Lastly, the tenth position is held by the Los Bronces copper-molybdenum mine, owned by Anglo American and located in Chile. It is estimated that 43.64 million tons of ore will be extracted during the year 2021. COBRE PANAMA MINERIA COBRE FIRST QUANTUM COBRE PANAMA MINERIA COBRE FIRST QUANTUM COBRE PANAMA MINERIA COBRE FIRST QUANTUM
