Southern Copper plans $319 million Cuajone mine upgrade
2026-05-22 15:57:54 [Print]
Southern Copper has announced a $318.6 million investment to overhaul its Cuajone copper mine in southern Peru, as the company seeks to cut costs and maintain production at one of its core operations.
The 17-month program at the Moquegua-region mine includes installing a new filter press at the concentrator plant to sustain output during maintenance shutdowns and improve concentrate quality. The project also involves relocating part of the mine's freshwater pipeline, preparing an additional 253,000 square metres for leaching, adapting the on-site sewer network, and building a new electrical substation and control room linked to the filtration system.
Cuajone produced nearly 163,000 tonnes of fine copper in 2025 and, alongside the Toquepala mine, helped drive higher output for Southern Copper in the final quarter of the year. Both operations secured The Copper Mark accreditation in 2025 for meeting the International Council on Mining and Metals' Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management.
The company is also advancing upgrades at Toquepala after receiving regulatory approval in January 2025 for around $79 million in improvements.
The projects are part of Southern Copper's wider effort to strengthen efficiency and sustainability across its Peruvian operations, as declining ore grades at Cuajone and Toquepala weigh on output. The company expects to produce 911,400 tonnes of copper this year and about 900,000 tonnes in 2027, down from 954,270 tonnes in 2025. Southern Copper aims to lift annual production to 1.6 million tonnes by 2033.
The 17-month program at the Moquegua-region mine includes installing a new filter press at the concentrator plant to sustain output during maintenance shutdowns and improve concentrate quality. The project also involves relocating part of the mine's freshwater pipeline, preparing an additional 253,000 square metres for leaching, adapting the on-site sewer network, and building a new electrical substation and control room linked to the filtration system.
Cuajone produced nearly 163,000 tonnes of fine copper in 2025 and, alongside the Toquepala mine, helped drive higher output for Southern Copper in the final quarter of the year. Both operations secured The Copper Mark accreditation in 2025 for meeting the International Council on Mining and Metals' Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management.
The company is also advancing upgrades at Toquepala after receiving regulatory approval in January 2025 for around $79 million in improvements.
The projects are part of Southern Copper's wider effort to strengthen efficiency and sustainability across its Peruvian operations, as declining ore grades at Cuajone and Toquepala weigh on output. The company expects to produce 911,400 tonnes of copper this year and about 900,000 tonnes in 2027, down from 954,270 tonnes in 2025. Southern Copper aims to lift annual production to 1.6 million tonnes by 2033.
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