VANCOUVER, BC – Rio2 Limited announces commencement of the commissioning phase for the new Tailings Filtration Facility (“TFF”) at its newly acquired Condestable Copper Mine (“Condestable”) in Peru.
The transition to dry-stack tailings provided by the new TFF represents a major operational milestone, following an 18-month construction period and a total capital investment of approximately USD 27 million. The facility features an installed design capacity of 8,400 tonnes per day (tpd), capable of processing 100% of Condestable’s current tailings output and has been engineered to accommodate potential future production expansions. Commissioning is expected to conclude within 10 weeks, with full commercial operations slated for the third quarter, 2026.
Filtered dry tailings output from the TFF will initially be deposited within the existing, permitted, tailings impoundment facilities before transitioning to Tailings Storage Facility #6. The TFF is currently in the advanced stages of the permitting process, with environmental approval expected during the third quarter of 2026. Initial permitted capacity for Facility #6 is expected to be 43 million tonnes, with the design allowing for staged expansions of up to a total of 170 million tonnes to support future extensions to the life of the mine.
By shifting to a dry-stacking facility, Condestable establishes itself as a best-in-class operation regarding tailings management, materially enhancing safety and environmental standards. This investment also aligns with Condestable’s ongoing commitment to its Copper Mark Certification. Furthermore, the filtration process will increase total water recovery at the mine from approximately 60% to close to 90%. This substantial improvement in water recovery provides the capacity for future growth projects without requiring additional water permits or increasing the use of local water resources.
Andrew Cox, President & CEO of Rio2, commented: “We are very happy about this important step at Condestable. The operating team’s commitment to the highest environmental and safety standards has been impressive and the beginning of the commissioning phase of the filter plant is strong evidence of this effort. It is also an important step for the next stage of growth at the mine, which we at Rio2 will be excited to unveil before the end of this year.”