BUENOS AIRES (miningweekly.com) – The Gabriela Mistral copper mine, in Chile, has produced 180 000 t of copper since it started copper cathode production in May last year.

Chilean government-owned Codelco, the world's largest copper miner, officially inaugurated the operation in December 2008.

Because of its lower grade, Codelco focused on achieving high efficiencies to ensure the mine is profitable.

It applied “state-of-the-art” technology across the entire production chain, including completely automatic trucks, which work without drivers, the company said in a statement.

“The great challenge is to create a culture that will enable the development of deposits with low grades, with major extractive complexity,” said Codelco corporate vice president of management control and operational excellency Luis Farías.

“This will hopefully become a reference point for the industry, both in applying new technological developments, as well as modern management systems,” Farías added.

The oxide ore being mined at Gabriela Mistral grades only about 0,45% copper on average, and more than 27-million tons of material had to be moved before the mineralisation was reached.

The project was Codelco's second greenfields mine that has developed from discovery to production.

The openpit leaching and sulphur-extraction/electrowinning operation was fast-tracked, and construction was completed in just 22 months.

It is expected to operate for a 15-year mine life.

The company is currently looking at a project to build a wind farm to generate 20 MW of the mine's 70 MW needs.

Under the work practices encouraged by Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, the mine employs women in every area of the production process, Codelco said.