Tampakan
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[edit] Brief overview
The Tampakan Copper-Gold Project ("Tampakan Project") is located approximately 50km north of General Santos City , a major growth centre on the southern Philippines island of Mindanao .General Santos has a population of approximately 420,000 and is accessed by sealed highways, a major deep water port and a modern international standard airport with the capacity to take the largest available commercial aircraft.[1]
[edit] Location
The Tampakan project is located on the southern Philippines island of Mindanao, 65 km north of General Santos City, at the tri-boundary of three provinces-South Catabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao Del Sur.[2]
[edit] Ownership
Ownership in the project will be 62.5% Xstrata, 32.5 % Indophil, and 5% Alsons Corp.,a Philippine company.[3]
[edit] Production per annum
Its total resources are estimated at 12.8 million tonnes of contained copper and 15.2 million ounces of contained gold. The mine is due to launch production in 2013, with annual output of 200,000 tonnes of copper and 200,000 ounces of gold.[4] The Tampakan pre-feasibility study assumes a mining rate of 30 million mt/y, producing an average of 210,000 mt/y of copper and 218,000 oz/y of gold in concentrates during the first 10 years of operation.[5]
[edit] Producton start date
The production phase of its gold-copper mining claims in South Cotabato province by 2010.[6]
[edit] Deposit size
Indicated, and inferred resources stand at 2 billion mt, grading 0.72% copper equivalent. Contained metal is estimated at 11.6 million mt of copper and 14.6 million oz of gold at a cut-off grade of 0.3% copper.[7]
[edit] Operating cost per pound
Cash operating costs are estimated at less than $0.70/lb of copper, including allowances for off-site costs, transport, royalties, and treatment and refining charges and credits for gold-in-concentrate.[8]
[edit] Notes
It seems likely that open pit mining is the more viable option because the deposit is close to the surface.[9]
[edit] External Analysis
Local Opppsition – The local folk are resisting the plans of SMI to start open pit mining operations by 2010 in the forested villages of Bong Mal, Tablu, Danlag and Folu Bato. Open pit mining operations are considered as among the most ecologically destructive method of mining as this wipes out entire forests and watershed areas."[10]
