en.Wedoany.com Reported - Swiss mining company Glencore is advancing a plan to resume copper exports starting in 2028, involving the historic Bajo La Alumbrera deposit located in Argentina's Catamarca Province. The mine, which has been inactive since 2018, is expected to restart before the end of 2026. The move comes amid renewed global interest in copper and incentives provided by Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI).
The company's CEO, Martín Pérez de Solay, confirmed the decision to restart this historic deposit during the Argentina Copper Conference held alongside the 2026 San Juan Mining Expo. The company estimates that once production resumes, Alumbrera could produce approximately 75,000 tonnes of copper, along with gold and molybdenum, over four years. The mine's return will also allow for the reutilization of key infrastructure, which will subsequently serve the development of the MARA project integrated with Agua Rica.
The CEO noted that the restart will help reduce operational risks and retrain personnel before MARA is fully commissioned. They emphasized that keeping the processing plant and logistics system active will help generate synergies with future large-scale domestic copper mine projects.
Regarding the El Pachón project, the CEO stated that the project is designed to be developed at maximum capacity. The deposit holds over 6 million tonnes of resources with consistent ore grades throughout the deposit, which he described as a massive-scale project. In its first phase, the processing plant, designed to handle 185,000 tonnes of ore per day, is expected to have a lifespan exceeding 70 years. He said, "No one plans a 70-year mine." The project includes multiple expansion phases over time.
He stressed that as the project advances, there is always room to increase output: "There is always the possibility to increase production. That is precisely the charm of this project." Glencore's intention is for the restart of Alumbrera to serve as a bridge to another project in Catamarca Province, Agua Rica, as well as the El Pachón project in San Juan Province.
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