Reviving the Once Largest
Copper Mine in the Far East
Ignacio B.
Alburo
Atlas
Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation
Abstract
To many
people in the mining Industry, Atlas Consolidated Mining and
Development Corporation is remembered to be one of the giants in
World Mining in the recent past. As a matter of fact, during its
peak operation, it was the biggest copper mine not only in the
Philippines but also in the whole of Asia. In the late 70’s through
the 80’s, when it was processing over 100,000 metric tons of ore
daily, it has gained the rank of the 3rd largest copper
producer in the world.
Fittingly, this paper relates briefly the history of ACMDC’s
operation highlighting the significant milestones during its glory
and its transition to the early days of the Carmen Copper
Corporation as the new operator.
It also
presents the conduct of the Feasibility Study indicating the current
Ore Reserves/Resource and the Financial Analyses to determine the
viability of the project. Detailed open pit and underground mining
plans and schedules, as well as processing are briefly discusses.
The project is robust and economically sound.
Soft mine
rehabilitation was actually started on September 2006 by repairing
the concentrator buildings and opening/dismantling all major
equipment therein to determine the actual condition of the
electromechanical parts of the major crushing, milling and flotation
equipment, repairing the underground shaft A-frame in preparation
for the dewatering works, reconstructing the major mine drainage
system and restoring the major road network for accessibility.
With the
release of a US$100 million loan facility in mid-2007, the company
implemented the full mine rehabilitation works, including the waste
stripping of the open pit mine with the first copper concentrate to
be produced by the 3rd quarter of 2008.
Finally,
the paper will also discuss the environmental issues, social
acceptability, and socio-economic benefits to be derived from the
revival of the Toledo Copper project. |