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  • Pages
  • Editions
01 Cover
02 Welcome Letter / Sections
03 Article & Interview Directory
04 Section 1: Introduction
05 An Evolving Constitutional Landscape
06 Chile Ministry of Mining Interview
07 Consejo Minero Interview
08 APRIMIN Interview
09 Expert Opinion Article: Francisco Acuña, CRU
10 Expert Insights: Chile’s Evolving Sociopolitical Landscape
11 ESG & Renewable Energy
12 ICMM Interview
13 Aggreko Interview
14 Mining Investment Climate
15 Appian Capital Advisory Interview
16 Expert Insights: Attracting Sustainable Investment
17 Section 2: Production & Development
18 Copper Production & Development
19 BHP Interview
20 Antofagasta PLC Interview
21 Freeport McMoRan Interview
22 Teck Resources Limited Interview
23 Amerigo Resources Interview
24 Precious Metals
25 Kinross Interview
26 Rio2 Limited Interview
27 Lithium
28 SQM Interview
29 Albemarle Interview
30 Section 3: Junior Exploration
31 Study-stage Copper Projects
32 Expert Insights: Chile's Junior Exploration Community
33 World Copper Limited Interview
34 Early-stage Opportunities
35 ATEX Resources Interview
36 Torq Resources Interview
37 Pampa Metals Interview
38 VerAI Discoveries Interview
39 Lithium Exploration and Development
40 Lithium Chile Interview
41 Wealth Minerals Interview
42 Monumental Minerals Interview
43 Section 4: Engineering, Construction & Consultancies
44 Engineering & Consultancies
45 Water and the Environment
46 JRI Interview
47 Wood Interview
48 SRK Consulting Interview
49 Construction & Contractors
50 Sigdo Koppers Interview
51 Züblin Strabag Interview
52 Echeverría Izquierdo Interview
53 Thiess Interview
54 Going Underground
55 Master Drilling Interview
56 Robbins Interview
57 INCIMMET Interview
58 Section 5: Equipment & Technology
59 The Evolution of Mining Equipment
60 Scania Interview
61 Expert Insights: OEMs on Sustainability and Innovation
62 Comminution & Material Handling
63 Metso Outotec Interview
64 ME Elecmetal Interview
65 TAKRAF Interview
66 Haver & Boecker Interview
67 Innovation & Technology
68 Hexagon Interview
69 DSI Underground Interview
70 Dingo Interview
71 Pipes, Valves, Components & Wear Protection
72 Hofmann Engineering Interview
73 Expert Insights: The Benefits of AI and Automation
74 Section 6: Services
75 Drilling & Blasting
76 Geotec Boyles Bros Interview
77 Enaex Interview
78 Services
79 SGS Interview
80 Section 7: Sponsored Company Profiles
81 FreePort-McMoRan Profile
82 Rio2 Company Profile
83 Lithium Chile Profile
84 Metso Outotec Company Profile
85 SGS Company Profile
86 Credits

Nolan Peterson, CEO,

WORLD COPPER LIMITED

“The resource we put in the PEA for Escalones is only what we believe to be half of the overall resource. The other half has seen no historical drilling, but geologically it is clear that it is an extension of the main resource.”

Can you briefly introduce World Copper and explain how the company was established?

World Copper is Canadian junior based out of Vancouver, which started trading on the TSXV in January 2021. We own the Escalones and Cristal projects in Chile, and the Zonia project in Arizona. Prior to listing, we were a subsidiary of Wealth Minerals where our chairman and founder, Henk van Alphen, is the CEO and chairman. Through Wealth Minerals, Mr. Alphen connected with Marcelo Awad, previous CEO of Antofagasta, and after seeing potential in the Escalones property, they founded World Copper to further advance the asset. We have recently transitioned from exploration to early stage development and have an exciting runway ahead of us.

Can you elaborate on the PEA for the Escalones project and the type of operation it shows?

Escalones is an SX-EW oxide heap leach operation and is the largest oxide copper deposit in exploration and development in Chile at this time. The initial capital is extremely low at US$438.4 million from construction decision. This has led to very impressive economics of approximately US$1.5 billion post-tax NPV and a 46.2% IRR at a US$3.60/lb copper price, with a payback of 2.18 years.

Can you explain what makes the LOM head grade of 0.38% Cu economic?

Looking at four oxide heap leach mines in Chile that are held by majors – Los Bronces, Gabriela Mistral, Lomas Bayas, and Zaldivar – their grades are in many cases lower than the 0.38% at Escalones. An oxide heap leach operation is considerably more viable for production as the economics are more attractive.

The PEA assumes water being available from the Rio Pangal Valley near El Teniente. Considering the issue of water scarcity in Chile, how are you preparing for this?

El Teniente is the world’s largest underground mine, and they draw water from the Rio Pangal Valley. We have envisioned building a pipeline into the Rio Pangal Valley under the assumption that our SX-EW operation would use approximately four times less water per pound of copper produced than the El Teniente operation. That being said, El Teniente is planning to build a pipeline from the coast to their project, and we are in discussions with them to come to an agreement where we can tie into that pipeline, giving us further access to water.

What access to infrastructure does the Escalones project have?

Escalones is 97 km southeast of Santiago and 35 km east of El Teniente, and there is a 60 km gravel road to the nearest community. The site is owned and well maintained by a local gas company, and we already have all the agreements and concessions to allow us to develop the mine. We have power access as there are many hydroelectric dams in the region that we can tie our grid access into. Furthermore, Escalones is at a relatively low elevation compared to other copper projects in the region.

What are the next steps to advance the project through exploration and development?

As fantastic as the economics are, Escalones has significant upside exploration potential. The resource we put in the PEA is only what we believe to be half of the overall resource. The other half has seen no historical drilling, but geologically it is clear that it is an extension of the main resource. There is also deep sulphide potential as well as three other copper porphyry skarn targets to the northeast that have never been drilled.

We have applied for permits that will allow us to conduct a 5,000 m drill program at the Mancha Amarilla lithocap that extends 1 km south from the main Escalones deposit. This will give us an indication if the resource is twice the size indicated in the PEA and will allow for more flexibility in our development options. We will then conduct footprint drilling on the northern Rio Negro target.

Starting 2023, we have envisioned a more detailed drill program that will allow us to upgrade the resource and prepare for a PFS and FS. Along the way we will be permitting, acquiring baseline information, and building community relationships. Currently, we are envisioning starting construction in approximately five years with mining operations starting two years after that. This is too perfect an asset to rush.

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Article: Early-stage Opportunities