Diversified base metals mining company Lundin Mining announced that it had received environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval for the extension of operations and mine life for its Candelaria copper mine, in Chile, last month.

The $413-million Candelaria 2030 project includes a number of enhancements to the current operation, the most important one being the construction of the new Los Diques tailings facility.

The EIA was submitted to the authorities in September 2013 and this approval represents a key milestone towards successfully extending the mine life of the Candelaria operation.

Lundin Mining president and CEO Paul Conibear states the company was very pleased to announce the receipt of the EIA approval at Candelaria.

“This announcement is the culmination of a comprehensive process and we wish to acknowledge the extensive efforts of, and support from, the Chilean authorities, our employees and the local communities who worked together to achieve this important milestone.”

The approval of the EIA is a major step towards allowing the company to begin construction of the new Los Diques tailings management facility. This approval enables immediate commencement of the early works infrastructure relocation programme for Los Diques, and Lundin Mining may now advance normal course construction permitting for the major civil works.

The Los Diques dam civil works are expected to start in 2016 once sectorial permits are in place and portions of the road, power and other existing infrastructure are relocated.

An extension of the current tailings storage facility is being advanced concurrently to align with the commissioning of Los Diques, which is expected to occur in 2018.

About Lundin Mining The company is a diversified base metals mining company with operations in Chile, Portugal, Sweden, Spain and the US producing copper, zinc, lead and nickel.

Additionally, Lundin Mining holds a 24% equity stake in the Tenke Fungurume copper/cobalt mine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in the Freeport Cobalt Oy business, which includes a cobalt refinery located in Kokkola, Finland.