en.Wedoany.com Reported - As Minera Centinela celebrates its 12th anniversary, the Chilean mining company is fully advancing its largest expansion plan in history. Formed in 2014 through the integration of the Esperanza and Tesoro mining areas, the company is now moving toward a larger production scale, leveraging new technology deployments, autonomous operations, and a series of projects driving changes in mining practices in the Antofagasta region.
At the core of this expansion is the construction of a second concentrator plant, the largest single investment ever made by its parent company, Antofagasta Minerals, amounting to $4.4 billion. The project is scheduled to start production in 2027, adding an annual capacity of 144,000 tons of copper and extending the overall mine life by 30 years.
Minera Centinela's development is also reflected in its operational model. The company is building one of the largest autonomous equipment fleets in Chile, aiming to have over 100 autonomous trucks by the end of this year. This technology has been deployed at the Esperanza Sur mine since 2023 and expanded to the Encuentro Sulfuros mine since 2026, making these two the only fully autonomous mining deposits under Antofagasta Minerals.
By 2027, Centinela will become the only mining complex in Chile operating five mining sectors simultaneously. New additions include the Polo Sur Óxidos project, which aims to extend the lifespan of the hydrometallurgical production line by fully utilizing existing infrastructure and local labor, as well as new development phases in the Mirador and El Llano sectors. These sectors are estimated to contain approximately 45 million tons of sulfide and 40 million tons of copper oxide resources.
Upon reaching full production capacity, Minera Centinela will become one of the largest mining sites in the industry, with an estimated daily ore processing capacity of about 1.3 million tons. Company General Manager Nicolás Rivera stated at the recent Exponor exhibition that this project represents an opportunity for the group, the Antofagasta region, and the communities surrounding the mine, not only due to the scale of investment but also because of its substantial positive impact on local suppliers, employment, and regional development.
In the Sierra Gorda area, two landmark community projects are under construction, including a cultural community center and the paving of new streets. These projects, with a total investment of over $30 million, are expected to be delivered in the second half of this year.
