The companies featured in the World Energy Trade ranking, based on data from Miningintelligence, are predominantly large to medium-sized enterprises.

Among these notable companies, Cobre Panamá mine, which is operated by First Quantum Minerals, has earned a place among the world’s top ten mines in terms of the amount of ore extracted, according to information from World Energy Trade. According to reports from the Vancouver-based company, it is projected that this mine will produce approximately 96.24 million tons of copper, silver, gold, and molybdenum ore by the third quarter of 2021. The Cobre Panamá mine, owned by Minera Panamá, is situated in Costa Abajo de Colón, spanning the Donoso and Omar Torrijos Herrera districts, and has been in operation since 2019. Its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stands at 3.5%.

Currently, negotiations are in progress between the Cobre Panamá mine and the National Government to establish a new concession agreement. These discussions have sparked controversy, as certain environmental and community organizations are opposing the government’s support for open-pit metal mining.

Miningintelligence has compiled a list highlighting the ten most prominent companies in the industry. These companies, mostly of substantial or moderate size, hold significant positions in the global ranking of the top 50 mining firms.

Sitting at the top of this list is the Escondida copper mine, which is owned by BHP and is recognized as the world’s largest mine in its category.

As indicated in the listing, it’s emphasized that Rio Tinto, the world’s second-largest mining company, possesses a 30% ownership interest in the referenced mine, which maintains an average daily production rate of 360,000 tons. By extrapolating from production data for the initial three quarters, it can be projected that the Escondida mine will yield an estimated 130.78 million tons of copper, silver, and gold ore for the year 2021.

The Collahuasi mine, a collaboration between Anglo American and Glencore in Chile, occupies the second position in the ranking. Projections anticipate that this year, the mine will yield approximately 104.65 million tons of copper, gold, and silver ore, marking a substantial increase compared to the 71.9 million tons extracted in 2020.

Ranked fourth on the list is Southern Copper’s Buenavista mine, situated in Mexico, and recognized as the world’s largest silver producer. The report highlights that Southern Copper has invested approximately one billion dollars in expanding its flagship mining operations, which encompass copper, molybdenum, zinc, and silver.

In the fifth position within the ranking is the Las Bambas mine, operated by MMG in Peru. It is estimated that this mine will extract around 65.26 million tons of copper, silver, gold, and molybdenum ore in 2021. Over the course of this year, the mine has encountered opposition from the local community, leading to road blockades by residents. However, following a public meeting with Prime Minister Mirtha Vásquez, the communities agreed to lift the roadblock last month. MINERIA COBRE

Securing the sixth position is the Sentinel copper and nickel mine, which is under the ownership of First Quantum Minerals and is situated in Zambia. According to the report, the company has made the decision not to divest its holdings in the Zambian copper mines, and it is anticipated that Sentinel will extract approximately 56.69 million tons of ore this year. MINERIA COBRE

The seventh place is occupied by the Aktogay mine, operated by Kaz Minerals, with its primary focus on the extraction of copper, silver, gold, and molybdenum ore. An estimated 53.6 million tons of ore are expected to be extracted from this mine in the current year.

In the eighth position, we find the Paracatu mine, which is owned by Kinross Gold and is located in Brazil. It is estimated that this mine will extract around 52.46 million tons of ore for this year. FIRST QUANTUM

The ninth place is taken by the Antamina mine, located in Peru and jointly owned by BHP and Glencore. This mine is specialized in the extraction of copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, and silver, with production very close to 52.45 million tons of ore.

Finally, in the tenth position, we have the Los Bronces mine, which is owned by Anglo American and is located in Chile. This mine specializes in the extraction of copper and molybdenum, and it is expected that approximately 43.64 million tons of ore will be extracted from it in 2021. MINERIA COBRE