Proyects

Following our principles of creating value, innovating for the future and creating trusts, our project department takes a fundamental role for the needs of Rafaela Mining, in search of new opportunities for growth and a sustainable beneficiation.

Actually, there are two major projects under development and other four in engineering evaluation.

Expansion to 5,5 KTPD

Due to the new resources discovered, this business plan seeks to generate a significant increase in Minera Rafaela S.A. sales and profits from the execution of a MMUS$ 175,0 mining investment at its Rafaela Underground Copper mine to expand current production to an annual average of 20,000 tonnes per year (KTPY) in fine equivalent copper contained in concentrates, over a ten years period, commencing in the second half of year four. Scheduling references in the business plan refer to Year 1, Year 2, etc. rather than calendar years, where the start of Year 1 is assumed to be the date of withdrawal of the project funds.

The plan has evaluated the development of Rafaela Mine's indicated sulfide copper resources with facilities for ore concentration up to 5,500 tonnes per day (TPD) capacity, storage of tailings, maintenance shops, offices and change house in the mine area. Project execution and expanded copper production targets are seen as attainable through a proactive approach, by teaming up with a project financing provider and outsourcing -through a competitive bidding scheme- of local and international reputable engineering, construction and supplier firms to increase competition, and improving project costs and schedule while reducing risks. One of the goals considered for the financing of this project is to negotiate an off-take agreement, prior to the construction of the facilities, in order to facilitate the financing of the project and secure a market for the future increased mineral output (Cu and Ag).

Rafaela Mine design and schedules has been developed by Minera Rafaela S.A., using the room & pillar and sub-level stopping underground exploitation method, which considered the geological block model as the basis for the mine design. The principle aim of the mine planning study was to develop a stoppe design and extraction plan for the indicated reserve of the deposit. Room and pillar has an average of 8 meter high and the sub-level stopping method has rooms with dimension of 20m.X20m.X3m.

At the mine, equipments will include: 6 low profile front loader (LHD) with 10 cubic yard bucket capacity, 5 electrohidraulic 2 booms jumbo´s and 8 trucks of 30 ton capacity. Three rotating crews will be use for continuous operation and maintenance coverage. Manpower will be 54 technicians and maintenance personnel, and 158 workers at the mine.

• Achieve targeted net sales annual average revenue of MMUS$ 130,0 by contracting off-take agreements with germans smelters.
• Expand potential german customer awareness over the planning period and increase fine Cu sales to the german industrial market.
• Reduce competition, reduce risks, and lower concentrate realization cost levels by establishing an off-take agreement with a reputable german company who has the need to secure long term copper concentrate supply.
• Leverage the commercial relationship with the german off-taker to be established, in order to increase the level of Cu concentrate sales to the german industrial sector.

Key to Success

• Commercialization power. Minera Rafaela needs to produce high-quality, cost efficient copper concentrates as well as provide reliable concentrate dispatching and shipment schedules over time.
• Excellence in fulfilling the promise of supplying copper concentrate at a given quality and on scheduled delivery volumes.
• Quality service and customer satisfaction. All copper concentrate we sell meet smelter specific standards and have a high by-product contain (silver).
• The right management team, with strong foundations in copper mining, base metal commercialization, finance and project development.