Minera Los Pelambres

What Minera Los Pelambres does

Minera Los Pelambres is a large-scale open-pit copper mining operation located in the Coquimbo Region of Chile, approximately 240 km north of Santiago, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Antofagasta Minerals S.A. (AMSA), which is itself a subsidiary of London-listed Antofagasta plc controlled by the Luksic family. The mine began operations in 1992 and currently runs at a nominal capacity of 175 ktpd, producing copper concentrate (with gold as by-product) and molybdenum concentrate through a milling and flotation process. It ranks among the 10 largest copper producers globally and, together with Centinela, accounts for approximately 80% of Antofagasta Minerals' copper output.

The operation is anchored by significant infrastructure investments totaling more than US$5 billion across the INCO project (US$2.2 billion, completed 2022), the PAO Operational Adaptation Project (approximately US$2 billion, in peak construction as of 2026), and the desalination platform financed via the Project Mallupai / DSWS SpA special purpose vehicle (US$1.55 billion BBB+ US private placement). Technical differentiation includes the first desalination plant for mining in central Chile (400 l/s capacity, scaling to 800 l/s), an 83-85% water recirculation rate among the highest in the industry, and an Integrated Operations Management (GIO) system that enables remote real-time operations management. The mine's operational life has been extended to 2053 through the EVU project.

Commercially, Minera Los Pelambres sells copper concentrate, molybdenum concentrate, and gold by-product to global industrial customers at prevailing commodity market prices through offtake agreements, with products transported via concentrate pipeline (concentraduct) to port facilities for export. Pricing is determined by global commodity markets with no consumer-facing pricing tiers. Revenue concentration is structurally diversified across the global copper market rather than named enterprise accounts. The operation contributes approximately 25% of Coquimbo Region GDP and 73% of its exports, with social programs (Fundación Minera Los Pelambres, founded 2003) and ESG certifications (The Copper Mark, ICMM membership) supporting its social license to operate.

Name

Minera Los Pelambres

Legal name

Minera Los Pelambres

Website

https://web.pelambres.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Minera Los Pelambres is a Chilean large-scale open-pit copper mine producing copper, molybdenum, and gold concentrates for global industrial markets. It is a subsidiary of Antofagasta Minerals, part of London-listed Antofagasta plc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Copper Mining

NAICS

Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining (212230)

SIC

Metal Mining (1000)

akta.pro primary industry

Copper Ore Mining (Open-Pit & Underground) (IMAKADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Copper Concentration (Crushing, Grinding, Flotation) (IMAKADAC), Copper By-Products Recovery (Molybdenum, Gold/Silver, Sulfuric Acid) (IMAKADAH)

Keywords

• Copper mining
• Molybdenum production
• Open-pit extraction
• Mineral concentration
• Mining operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Condes

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Copper Concentrate Sales: Primary revenue stream from sale of copper concentrate produced through milling and flotation process. Los Pelambres is a sulfide ore deposit producing copper concentrate containing primarily gold as a by-product.
2. Molybdenum Concentrate Sales: Production of molybdenum concentrate as a secondary product through the same milling and flotation process, sold as a by-product.
3. Gold By-product Revenue: Gold recovered as a by-product of copper concentrate production, contributing additional revenue to operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Minera Los Pelambres operates a large-scale open-pit copper sulfide mine in Chile's Coquimbo Region, producing copper concentrate with gold as a by-product and molybdenum concentrate through milling and flotation processes. The company sells these mineral commodities to global industrial smelters, traders, and refiners at prevailing market prices. Operations are supported by proprietary desalination technology, water recirculation systems, and the Integrated Operations Management (GIO) platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Copper Concentrate
• Molybdenum Concentrate
• Gold By-Product
• Desalination Plant (Planta Desalinizadora)

Quantifiable outcome

• 83-85% water recirculation rate - among the highest in the industry
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• Schwager ServicestrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 24 March 2026Schwager Service, a subsidiary 78% controlled by Schwager S.A., secured a US$27.1 million contract with Minera Los Pelambres to perform maintenance services at the copper operation from April 2026 through April 2031, strengthening its position as a strategic supplier.
• ICMM (International Council on Mining and Metals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Pelambres, through Antofagasta Minerals, is a member of ICMM, an international organization bringing together 27 mining and metallurgical companies and more than 35 raw materials associations. As a member, adheres to the ICMM Sustainable Development Framework composed of 10 Mining Principles.
• The Copper MarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Pelambres received The Copper Mark certification after a self-assessment phase and independent audit, demonstrating compliance with the highest international sustainability standards for copper production.
• Consejo Minero de ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Pelambres is a member of Chile's Mining Council, an industry association that groups the country's largest mining companies and promotes sustainable development of the mining industry.
• Quitai-Anko Research ConsortiumstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Pelambres co-finances the Quitai-Anko research consortium, which was awarded a five-year implementation program led by Universidad de La Serena, focusing initially on water solutions for the Choapa Valley.
• Universidad de La SerenastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Los Pelambres through the Quitai-Anko consortium to develop sustainable solutions for water challenges, with initial focus on the Choapa Valley and expansion to Coquimbo, Atacama, and Valparaíso regions.
• RedEAméricastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundación Minera Los Pelambres is a member of RedEAmérica, an organization promoting sustainable community development in Latin America through private social investment. The network is composed of 70 organizations from 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries.
• Pacto Global Chile (UN Global Compact)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Pelambres participates in Pacto Global Chile of the United Nations, which aligns companies worldwide under 10 Principles in Human Rights, Labor Relations, Environment, and Anti-Corruption.
• CIDERE (Corporación Industrial para el Desarrollo Regional)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Pelambres is associated with CIDERE to work permanently on the progress of the Coquimbo Region focused on human development through education and job creation.
• CORMINCO (Consejo Regional Minero de Coquimbo)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Pelambres is part of the Regional Mining Council of the Coquimbo Region, working on regional mining development initiatives.
• Fundación Minera Los PelambrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated by Minera Los Pelambres in 2003 to open sustainable development opportunities for inhabitants of Choapa Province in three areas: Water Resource Management, Local Economic Development, and Education and Heritage. Works with four municipalities and communities in Choapa Province.
• Compromiso Regional Partners (El Día, UCN)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerCycle of dialogue promoted by daily El Día, Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN), and Minera Los Pelambres. Has become a platform for meeting and reflection to address the main challenges of the Coquimbo Region from a collaborative perspective.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile - Centro de Estudios LongitudinalesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-year partnership for the Longitudinal Study of the Coquimbo Region, conducting annual measurements to understand the evolution of social phenomena and quality of life, generating evidence for public policy decisions.
• Fundación Huella LocalstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSocial foundation that works on the design and implementation of high-impact social projects throughout Chile, executing community infrastructure projects for Los Pelambres including sports facilities and community centers.
• Junto al Barrio FoundationstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFoundation in charge of leading the 'En Acción, vecinos protagonistas' community program in Los Vilos, providing tools, accompaniment and support to impulse projects contributing to the development of neighborhoods and communities.
• Municipalidad de SalamancastrategicOthersMunicipal government of Salamanca is a key partner in collaborative community projects including sports infrastructure (La Higuerilla stadium, Coirón sports facilities), agricultural support programs, and various community development initiatives.
• Municipalidad de Los VilosstrategicOthersMunicipal government of Los Vilos partners with Los Pelambres on community programs including the 'En Acción' community development program and desalination plant operations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Rio Tinto: Global diversified miner with major copper operations including Escondida partnership with BHP and Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia. Comparable at the copper segment level with similar large-scale concentrate production and water management challenges.
• Antofagasta plc: UK-listed ultimate parent of Minera Los Pelambres and operator of the broader Antofagasta Minerals copper portfolio including Centinela, Antucoya, and Zaldívar. Comparable as the consolidated group entity that aggregates Los Pelambres with peer copper operations.

Direct peers

• First Quantum Minerals: Copper-focused mining company with major operations including Cobre Panamá and Sentinel in Zambia. Directly comparable as a pure-play copper concentrate producer with by-products and significant expansion capex exposure.
• Glencore: One of the world's largest copper producers with major operations in South America (Las Bambas in Peru, Antapaccay) and globally. Comparable in scale, commodity exposure, and integrated mining-marketing business model.
• Anglo American: Major diversified miner with significant copper exposure including Los Bronces mine in central Chile and Quellaveco in Peru. Comparable as a Chilean copper producer with similar by-product profile and sustainability focus.
• Teck Resources: Canadian mining company with significant copper operations including Quebrada Blanca in northern Chile. Directly comparable as a Chilean copper concentrate producer with by-product molybdenum and large-scale expansion projects.
• Codelco: Chilean state-owned copper mining company operating multiple large-scale copper mines including Chuquicamata and El Teniente. Direct domestic peer in Chilean copper concentrate production with similar large-scale open-pit and underground operations.
• Freeport-McMoRan: Major global copper producer with flagship Grasberg mine in Indonesia and large-scale operations in the Americas. Directly comparable as a top-tier copper concentrate producer with by-product gold and significant expansion capex programs.
• BHP Group: BHP operates the Escondida copper mine in northern Chile, the world's largest copper mine. Direct competitor in Chilean large-scale open-pit copper concentrate production with comparable sulfide ore processing and by-product recovery.
• Southern Copper Corporation: One of the world's largest integrated copper producers with major operations in Peru and Mexico. Directly comparable in copper concentrate and by-product production with significant resource base and expansion pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minera-los-pelambres

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minera Los Pelambres