en.Wedoany.com Reported - Condestable Mining Company (Compañía Minera Condestable), following its acquisition by the Rio2 Limited group, is advancing a large-scale exploration program across its 46,000-hectare concession area with high copper potential. This was announced by the company's General Manager, Enrique Ramírez Ostolaza, during a business breakfast organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP). As part of the program, the company is advancing three exploration fronts: underground, surface, and regional. Geophysical exploration has reached 62.3% progress, with the goal of identifying new opportunities for mineral resource growth.
To integrate new technologies into its operations, Condestable is evaluating an ore sorting pilot program aimed at improving the utilization of low-grade materials and enhancing mining process efficiency. The program plans to build a pilot plant with a daily processing capacity of 1,000 to 1,500 tons. The project will advance based on laboratory test results from materials in low-grade stockpiles and mineralized waste rock dumps. Laboratory tests indicate a potential increase in feed copper grade by 1.4 to 1.6 times. Through this technology, the company aims to achieve early classification of ore, separating non-economic waste rock before materials enter the processing plant. This can optimize the use of processing capacity, reduce operating costs, and incorporate previously economically unviable resources into the production cycle.
According to the information presented, the pilot plant is expected to begin operations by the end of this year. This phase will evaluate the technology's performance under operational conditions and determine its technical and economic feasibility. If results are favorable, the ore sorting process will be gradually integrated into Condestable's operations as part of a new mining approach based on innovation, efficiency, and full resource utilization. Additionally, Rio2 announced the completion of a technical report updating the resources and reserves of the Condestable mine.
In terms of environmental and mining responsibility, the company is advancing the commissioning of its Filtered Tailings Plant (Planta de Relaves Filtrados, PRF). This facility will increase total water recovery from approximately 60% to about 90%, contributing to more efficient water management in operations.
