The national copper corporation of Chile, Codelco, has awarded a contract worth $50 million to Rockwell Automation to supply systems to the Chuquicamata underground mine in Chile.
Rockwell Automation will collaborate in the transformation of the century-old, open-pit mine into a technologically advanced “super cave” mine that uses a block-caving extraction process. This advanced method is expected to extend the life of the mine by at least 40 years, improving its asset utilization.
Rockwell Automation is working on the engineering and construction phase, in advance of a project start-up by mid-2019. Annual production is projected to be 320,000 tons of fine copper and 15,000 tons of molybdenum.
