Glencore Plc is advancing its efforts to extract more copper from lower-quality ore at its Lomas Bayas mine in northern Chile by implementing a new leaching technology. The move comes as the mining industry faces the challenge of declining ore grades and increasing pressure to meet the growing demand for copper, driven by the global transition to renewable energy and electric vehicles.
After two years of successful laboratory trials, Glencore’s Lomas Bayas mine has agreed to initiate on-site testing of a leaching process developed by Ceibo, a Chilean startup backed by BHP Group. The two companies confirmed the development in a joint statement on Tuesday, though they did not provide specific investment figures. Ceibo is among several companies, including Jetti Resources LLC and Rio Tinto’s Nuton venture, working on catalyst technologies designed to help extract copper from low-grade ores.
Leaching is seen as a key technology to boost and extend copper output at existing mines, especially in an era when new high-quality deposits are becoming more challenging to find and develop. The process Ceibo has developed is aimed at extracting copper from sulfide ores by utilizing existing leaching plants, enhanced by electrochemical reactions that improve recovery rates in shorter timeframes.
At Lomas Bayas, which currently has one of the lowest ore grades in the industry at just 0.25%, the application of this new leaching process could help extend the mine’s operational life by at least seven more years, according to Pablo Carvallo, general manager of the mine. Carvallo emphasized that the new technology aligns with the company’s long-term sustainability goals and could pave the way for similar initiatives at other Glencore mines in the future.
The first results from the on-site testing at Lomas Bayas are expected to be available by April or May of next year, providing a clearer picture of the leaching technology’s potential. If successful, the process could be expanded to other Glencore operations.
Ceibo, which recently raised funds from investors including BHP Ventures and Energy Impact Partners, is among the leaders in the race to develop leaching solutions for the mining industry. With the increasing scarcity of high-grade copper deposits and rising demand for the metal, this new technology could play a critical role in meeting future copper supply needs.
