AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO THE LONG-TERM PLANNING PROCESS IN THE COPPER MINING INSDUSTRY

Abstract

Long-term mine-metallurgy planning in the copper mining industry is a complex process that simultaneously establishes ore extraction policies for multiple mines, an investment plan, and an operating plan for processing plants such concentrators, smelters, and refineries. These strategic plans must specify extraction and processing decisions for each cubic meter of mine ore while maintaining their consistency with medium- and long-term objectives