The recently expanded Quebrada Blanca mine in Chile is Teck’s largest copper project is undergoing optimization and debottlenecking. Image courtesy of Teck Resources.
At the heart of one of the mining industry’s most ambitious combinations is a plan to fix a problematic Teck Resources Ltd. copper mine high in Chile’s Atacama desert, and ultimately to integrate it with a vast neighboring operation that has long been a jewel in Anglo American Plc’s crown.
That, however, will require resolving complex operational troubles that have plagued Quebrada Blanca, known as QB — and then navigating relationships with partners in Collahuasi, a mine Anglo doesn’t control.
Teck has staked its growth plans on QB, but a major overhaul of the mine was a headache from its early days, coming in more than 80% over budget and years behind schedule. While delays and overruns are not unheard of in the industry, the…
