Highland Copper Completes Phase 1 Engineering and Announces Positive Results from Trade-Off Studies at Its Copperwood Project

Core Insights - Highland Copper Company has completed Phase 1 detailed engineering for its Copperwood Project, confirming project design and improving environmental footprint, with Phase 2 engineering expected to advance to 35-40% completion [1][2][12] Engineering Highlights - Phase 1 was led by Dr. Wynand van Dyk, enhancing the company's technical capacity, with engineering work conducted by DRA Americas Inc, Foth Infrastructure & Environment, and Tetra Tech [2] - The redesigned process plant aims for 87.6% copper recovery at a concentrate grade of 25%, with reduced operating costs through optimized reagent consumption [6] - Mine engineering re-evaluated mining methods, identifying a potential shift from room-and-pillar to drift-and-fill mining, which could increase recoveries from 69% to approximately 94% [5][6] Environmental and Operational Improvements - The project incorporates a tailings thickener, increasing solids content to about 50% by mass, which reduces tailings handling costs and enhances water management [11] - An integrated approach to tailings deposition and water management has been developed, improving efficiency and reducing risks [7] Future Considerations - Phase 2 will require an updated labor cost survey to ensure competitiveness in attracting skilled personnel, impacting overall unit mining costs [8] - The mine plan will be updated to reflect revised cut-off grades and market inputs, ensuring operational efficiency and long-term viability [9] - Potential permit amendments may be necessary to accommodate technical optimizations, which could affect the project schedule [10]