Capstone Copper Corp. reported a temporary halt in sulphide copper production at its Mantoverde operation in Chile. The disruption stems from consecutive failures of the ball mill’s electrical drive motors.
The first motor failure occurred on August 24th. While the mine initially resumed operations using a spare motor, a second motor failed on August 30th. This left the mine without a backup, impacting production.
Capstone estimates the repair process will take approximately four weeks. During this time, the company plans to maintain partial operations by bypassing the ball mill, a method previously used successfully. The company also intends to strategically reschedule planned maintenance to coincide with the downtime.
The company expects the production shortfall to range between 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes of copper concentrate. Capstone will provide further updates as the situation develops. The company is investigating the cause of the motor failures to prevent future occurrences.
Capstone Copper operates several mines across the Americas, including the Pinto Valley mine in Arizona, the Cozamin mine in Mexico, and the Mantos Blancos mine in Chile. The company also holds a 70% stake in the Mantoverde mine and owns the Santo Domingo copper project.
The company’s strategy focuses on increasing copper production while improving operational efficiency and cost management. Capstone emphasizes responsible mining practices and creating positive impacts on local communities.
The company acknowledges that its production estimates and repair timelines are subject to change based on evolving circumstances. The company stressed that its assessment of the situation is based on current information. The company also noted the impact of external factors like global events, economic conditions, and supply chain issues on its operations. These external factors are outside of the company’s direct control.
Capstone Copper‘s investor relations team is available for further inquiries.
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