| Thu 17 Jun 2004, 15:10 | | COLLAHUASI ROSARIO PROJECT COMMISSIONED |
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ANGLO AMERICAN PLC - COLLAHUASI ROSARIO PROJECT COMMISSIONED
Anglo American plc
(Incorporated in the United Kingdom)
Registration number: 3564138
JSE Share code: AGL
ISIN: GB0004901517
(the `Company`)
NEWS RELEASE - COLLAHUASI ROSARIO PROJECT COMMISSIONED
Anglo American plc (`Anglo American`) is pleased to announce that the
commissioning of the US$654 million Collahuasi Rosario Project commenced in late
April, some five weeks ahead of schedule and under budget. The project, which
will enable Collahuasi to maintain production of copper in concentrate at a long
term average rate of 400,000 tonnes per annum, comprised:
* the equipping of and prestripping of 114 million tonnes of overburden so as
to access the Rosario orebody;
* the construction of a 9 km long series of high speed ore belt conveyors
from the Rosario mine to the plant at Ujina;
* increasing the design capacity of the concentrator plant from 60,000 tonnes
per day to 110,000 tonnes per day;
* increasing the capacity of the associated infrastructure, including power
supply tailings, concentrate pipeline and port concentrate storage, the
latter still to be completed.
The concentrator construction period was 20 months and over 5,000 contractors
were employed on site during the peak construction period.
Ramping up of production through the new milling circuit has proceeded ahead of
schedule and thoughput rates of above the design capacity of 110,000 tonnes per
day have already been recorded. The Rosario mine is now in production and the
high capacity conveyor system is fully operational.
Commenting on the successful commissioning of the project Anglo American CEO,
Tony Trahar said: `The Collahuasi project team and the contractors are to be
congratulated on the achievement of this significant milestone. The brownfields
Rosario Project is a further demonstration of our ability and determination,
together with that of our partners, to add value at this world class orebody.
The fact that the project is coming on stream in a favourable copper price
environment will further enhance shareholder returns.`
For further information:
Anglo American - London
Investor Relations Media Relations
Nick von Schirnding Kate Aindow
Tel: +44 207 698 8540 Tel: +44 207 698 8619
Anglo American - Johannesburg
Investor Relations Media Relations
Anne Dunn Marion Dixon
Tel: +27 11 638 4730 Tel: +27 11 638 3001
Notes to Editors:
Collahuasi is a joint venture between Anglo American (44%), Falconbridge (44%)
and a Japanese consortium, lead by Mitsui and Co. Ltd. (12%)
Anglo American plc is one of the world`s largest mining and natural resource
groups. With its subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, it is a global
leader in gold, platinum group metals and diamonds, with significant interests
in coal, base and ferrous metals, industrial minerals and paper and packaging.
The group is geographically diverse, with operations in Africa, Europe, South
and North America, Australia and Asia. (www.angloamerican.co.uk).
Johannesburg
17 June 2004
Sponsor
Cazenove
Date: 17/06/2004 03:00:03 PM
Produced by the JSE SENS Department
