BUENOS AIRES (miningweekly.com) – South Korean State-controlled minerals developer Korea Resources and its joint-venture partner Bolivian Mining Corporation (Comibol) is expected start the development of the second phase of the Corocoro copper project in Bolivia this week.

Corocoro, which used to be Bolivia’s largest copper mine until 1985, is being developed in two phases, according to Chilean website Portal Minero. The first phase would focus on the copper contained in the tailings, while the second phase would focus on the openpit mining operation.

Production at Corocoro was initially expected to start on July 16, but was delayed because of a lack of sulphuric acid. The mine requires about 50 t/d of sulphiric acid.

Corocoro would produce between 200 t/y and 300 t/y of copper cathode. The tailings had a reserve of some 1,2-million tons, which would be exploited in five to six years, reported fmbolivia.com.

The Bolivian Mining Ministry had previously stated that Corocoro had 15-million tons of known copper reserve and that it might have as much as 100-million tons of the material.

The $218-million Corocoro project, located south of the Bolivian capital La Paz, would generate 500 direct jobs, local newspaper La Prensa reported.

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