JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Dual-listed Atalaya Mining produced 26 179 t of copper in 2016, in line with its guidance, boosted by average copper recoveries of 83.29% at its 100%-owned Proyecto Riotinto mine in Andalucía, Spain.
The miner on Tuesday reported that it had produced 8 938 t of copper in the last quarter of the year, compared with the 8 752 t produced in the previous quarter.
Total ore extraction during 2016 amounted to 6.8-million tonnes, with fourth-quarter ore extraction slightly above that of the third quarter, at 2.3-million tonnes.
Meanwhile, the company noted that it would continue with drilling programmes in the new year to further boost the positive results it had achieved from exploration drilling concentrated on the northern extension of the historic Atalaya pit.
CEO Alberto Lavandeira described 2016 as a year of project development and ramp-up for the company. “Our results have generated strong production figures and give us significant confidence going forward. We look forward to 2017 as a year of consolidation with further operating improvements and cost efficiencies.”