Our Quellaveco copper mine in Peru has reached a major milestone – the safe and responsible production of 1 million tonnes of copper since beginning operations.
This marks a fantastic achievement in its history. Quellaveco’s construction started in 2018 and four years later the first production was achieved. After safely ramping up production, Quellaveco has reached its designed capacity, delivering more than 300,000 tonnes per year in 2023 and 2024 and it’s expected to produce between 310,000 and 340,000 tonnes of copper in 2025 – enough metal to produce over 5 million EVs per year.
Quellaveco is a shining example of operational excellence in action, as one of South America’s most technologically advanced mines. Quellaveco is supplied with 100% renewable electricity and incorporates cutting-edge mining technologies, including autonomous drilling and haulage fleets – a first in Peru – a remote operations centre, as well as a number of Anglo American’s advanced processing technologies.
Copper is one of the most critical metals underpinning two major demand growth trends: improving living standards for a growing and urbanising global population; and decarbonising the global economy. By 2040, it is estimated that our industry will need to develop the equivalent of 60 new Quellaveco-sized copper mines to meet future demand.
Congratulations to our Quellaveco team on this incredible milestone – here’s to many more years of safely and responsibly producing this future-enabling metal.
