Capstone Sulphide Operations Halted at Mantoverde Desalination Plant

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Written by Amir Richani for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land Texas)

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Summary

Capstone announced it temporarily halted sulphide operations at its Mantoverde copper mine in Chile due to water-supply issues related to problems at its desalination plant. The company reported that oxide operations would also need to be halted by January 23 unless the issue was resolved. Meanwhile, the Union No.2 at the copper mine has been on strike since January 2.

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Further Mine Impacts

Operations at the Mantoverde copper mine in Chile have been further impacted by water supply issues after individuals entered the Capstone desalination plant on January 18, located about 40 kilometres from the mine. The company reported interference with the electric system at the desalination plant, halting supply to the mine.

"Striking union members are preventing access and the restart of facility operations at the desalination plant," announced Capstone in a statement on January 22.

Tensions around the Mantoverde mine have increased since January 2, when Union No.2 of workers went on strike over the failure of contract negotiations.

Dialogue between the company and workers was mediated, but they have not yielded an agreement between the parties.

The company stated that it "remains willing to engage in discussions to seek a resolution with Union #2. The Company will continue to adhere to legal procedures, respecting the rights of all its employees, inviting the union to engage in a constructive dialogue, and providing the authorities with all requested information."

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Record Production Results

Capstone reported record copper output in 2025 of 224,764 tons, 22% higher than in 2024 and 37% more than in 2023. This growth was driven by the Mantoverde Development Project and the Mantos Blancos debottlenecking project.

In the fourth quarter, copper volumes totaled 58,273 tons. Mantoverde contributed 14,314 tons of sulphides and 9,506 tons of cathodes during the quarter. Full-year Mantoverde output was 62,308 tons of sulphides and 32,807 tons of cathodes.

Key Takeaways

• Workers at the mine have been on strike since January 2.
• Individuals entered the mine's desalination plant, and striking workers are preventing Capstone from entering the assets.
• Sulphide operations at Mantoverde have been halted due to water supply issues.

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About IIR News Intelligence
IIR News Intelligence is a trusted source of news for the industrial process and energy markets, powered by Industrial Info Resources' Global Market Intelligence (GMI).

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).