BHP-Backed Startup Delivers First Copper at Chile Leaching Plant

A Chilean startup backed by BHP Group has delivered its first copper cathodes from a demonstration plant at a mine site in northern Chile as the industry looks to squeeze out more metal from lower quality ore.

Ceibo extracted the metal from sulfide ores at a mine owned by Cia. Minera San Geronimo, or CMSG, using a proprietary leaching process, the two companies said in a statement Tuesday.