Valle de Copiapo iron ore mine

Valle de Copiapó is a mining complex operated by Compañía Minera del Pacífico (CMP), comprising the Cerro Negro Norte (CNN) mine and an 85-kilometre slurry pipeline connecting the mine to the Punta Totoralillo port. The Magnetite Plant is also part of the complex, although it is modelled separately due to its distinct characteristics. Located near the city of Copiapó, approximately 800 kilometres north of Santiago in Chile’s Atacama Region. The CNN mine was officially launched in 2014 following several years of planning, with the initial concept dating back to 2006. The mine uses open-pit methods, and the processing plant includes crushing, grinding, and concentration stages to produce iron ore concentrates. In 2024, the CNN was CMP's only mine to increase production compared to 2023. Looking ahead, there is optimism about further capacity expansion for the mine and the complex upon the approval of a new project.