BHP Biliton, 중남미지역 금년도 1분기(회계종료 '11.9.30) 178천톤 동광 생산량 기록

[김창환]

BHP Biliton, 중남미지역 금년도 1분기(회계종료 '11.9.30) 178천톤 동광 생산량 기록
	페루		2011-10-20
Multinational resource group BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) produced 178,500t of copper from its Latin American operations during fiscal Q1 ended September 30, down from 245,300t year-on-year, according to the company's quarterly production report. Latin America accounted for the bulk of overall copper production in the period, which fell 24% to 220,300t. The drop in production was mainly the result of lower grades and industrial action at Chile's Escondida, planned maintenance works at the Pampa Norte division also in Chile, and planned smelter and refinery outages at Australia's Olympic Dam operation, the company said. This was partially offset by record material mined and milling rates achieved at Peru's Antamina, coinciding with operations progressing through a copper rich ore zone. Output in the period totaled 80,200t of copper in concentrate, down from 133,900t, and 140,100t of cathodes, down from 157,300t. BHP's 57.5% share of copper in concentrate production at Escondida - the world's largest red metal mine - fell to 49,900t from 110,700t. Cathode production also fell to 32,900t from 45,000t. In total terms, output at Escondida dropped 46.8% to 82,600t from 155,700t. "Due to industrial action that impacted operations in the September 2011 quarter, Escondida production is now expected to be marginally lower in the 2012 financial year with volumes weighted to the second half," the company said. Production is expected to improve beyond the 2012 financial year as mining activities progress towards higher grade ore with completion of the US$544mn Escondida Ore Access project in the main pit. Output from Pampa Norte, which includes the Cerro Colorado and Spence operations, fell to 65,400t of cathode from 66,400t. At Antamina, the company's 33.8% share of copper in concentrate output jumped to 30,300t from 23,200t, zinc production declined to 8,956t from 24,937t and lead dropped to 102t from 612t. Lower zinc and lead output was the result of a broad decline in grades, the company said. Nickel output at the Cerro Matoso operation in Colombia amounted to 10,400t, down from 12,400t. - BN America