Xstrata Copper’s Lomas Bayas operation has completed construction and commenced commissioning on schedule of its $300 million Lomas II project to extend the mine life by 16 years.

The Lomas II project, in northern Chile, involved the development of the Fortuna de Cobre open pit, 3km from the operation’s original mine and infrastructure, and the construction of a new primary crusher, conveyor transport system and new heap and run-of-mine (ROM) leach pads. Copper cathodes are produced using the existing Lomas Bayas SX-EW plant.

During the project’s construction Xstrata employed more than 4500 people and delivered over 100,000 hours of technical and safety training. In operation, Lomas II will add around 50 permanent positions to Lomas Bayas’ existing workforce of approximately 1850 people including employees and contractors

“I am delighted that we have been able to successfully complete this project to extend the life of Lomas Bayas, one of the world’s lowest grade mining operations,” Xstrata Copper chief executive Charlie Sartain said.

“The Lomas II project team has achieved this with a commendable safety performance, recording only one lost time injury in over 3.7 million man hours and a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate of 1.07 per million hours worked.

“Through the Lomas Bayas operation, we will continue to make a significant contribution to local communities, the Antofagasta Region and the country with continued regional employment, investment in social projects and partnerships, opportunities for local suppliers and enterprise development and fiscal payments to government.

“This is a great achievement by the Lomas Bayas team and wraps up a remarkable year for Xstrata Copper in which we have commissioned four major projects on schedule and in line with budget, establishing a solid platform for strong long term production and significant production growth from our operations in 2013.”