Canada's Teck Resources expects to reduce copper output at its Highland Valley mine in British Columbia, Canada, by about 16,000 tonnes in the second half of the year and 52,000 tonnes in 2010, due to geotechnical issues, it said on Thursday.
"Access to some of the ore in the Valley Pit is expected to be restricted for at least the next 18 months," the company said in a statement on its website.
"The shortfall is expected to be partially made up from lower grade ore from the Lornex and Highmont pits."
Teck has revised its 2009 production forecast for the operation in British Columbia, Canada to 117,000 tonnes of contained copper, with 2010 output forecast at a preliminary 85,000 tonnes.
Highland Valley, which produced 122,300 tonnes last year, had been expected to boost output by about 10,000 tonnes this year due to anticipated improvements in ore grades and recoveries.
The company statement did not elaborate on details of the geotechnical issues but said they were distinct from two geotechnical events last year that had been substantially dealt with.
It said remedial actions at the mine were expected to include at least 40 million tonnes of additional stripping and placement of a buttress.
Highland Valley's life-of-mine ore reserves are expected to be reduced by about two percent, although the size of the reduction will depend on the final design of remedial actions, the company said.
The problems at Highland Valley have reduced the company's total copper mine output target for 2010 to 342,500 tonnes from an earlier expected 395,000 tonnes, with the start-up of the Carmen de Andacollo concentrator in Chile.
Teck said it had engaged third party geotechnical consultants to further assess the extent of the issues. That work was expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
Source: Reuters
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