Copper in San Juan: McEwen secures $70 million financing for Los Azules

Copper in San Juan: McEwen secures $70 million financing for Los Azules
Copper in San Juan: McEwen secures $70 million financing for Los Azules
Share:
McEwen Mining Inc. announced a new investment of up to $70 million in its subsidiary McEwen Copper Inc. This investment will be made through a private sale of up to 2,333,333 common shares of McEwen Copper at a price of $30.00 per share, and will be mainly focused on the growth of the Los Azules copper project, one of the five megaprojects located in the province of San Juan.

By Panorama Minero

The main investments already committed come from McEwen Mining and Rob McEwen, the company's CEO and renowned mining entrepreneur, who will purchase 27% of the shares offered. While McEwen Mining will buy shares worth $14 million, Rob McEwen will invest an additional $5 million. However, the company confirmed in a statement that these investments will be subject to certain rights of existing McEwen Copper shareholders. The remaining shares will only be available to qualified investors who can invest at least $2 million. The shares sold in this offering are private and cannot be freely traded until they are listed on a public exchange.

The funds raised will be used to develop a financial feasibility study for the Los Azules copper project, one of San Juan's flagship projects in the race to start copper operations nationwide. This study is crucial to determine the economic viability of the project and is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Before this new investment, McEwen Mining owned 47.7% of McEwen Copper and Rob McEwen owned 12.9%. If the offering is completed, McEwen Mining will own 45.8% and Rob McEwen will own 12.5%, respectively.

McEwen Copper owns 100% of the Los Azules copper project, one of the largest undeveloped copper deposits in the world. According to the 2023 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), Los Azules has 10.9 billion pounds of copper with a grade of 0.40% (indicated category) and an additional 26.7 billion pounds with a grade of 0.31% (inferred category). The report also estimates that the project could generate a net value of $2.7 billion after taxes, with a very low production cost and a mine life of 27 years.

"This feasibility study will also show how Los Azules will be different from other copper mines, using less water, emitting less carbon, and operating with 100% renewable energy by 2038," the company stated in its latest release.

Published by: Panorama Minero

Category: News

Join our mining community!


Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive news, insights, and updates on the mining industry and Panorama Minero's latest initiatives.

Illustrative image for the article: Copper: BHP and Lundin Mining finalize the acquisition of Filo Corp

Copper: BHP and Lundin Mining finalize the acquisition of Filo Corp

In a move that reinforces their position in the global mining industry, BHP and Lundin Mining have completed the acquisition of Filo Corp., a company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the owner of the Filo del Sol (FDS) copper project, located in the Vicuña district between Argentina and Chile. This step marks a key milestone in the expansion of both giants in the copper market, a critical mineral for the energy transition and global technological growth.
Illustrative image for the article: Challenger Gold Completes Strategic Placement and Initiates Processing Agreement at Casposo

Challenger Gold Completes Strategic Placement and Initiates Processing Agreement at Casposo

Australian company Challenger Gold (ASX: CEL) announced the completion of a strategic placement for US$6.6 million with an entity controlled by Eduardo Elsztain, who becomes the company's largest shareholder with a 12.7% stake. Additionally, the initial payment of US$2 million was made under the Toll Processing Agreement with Casposo Argentina Mining Limited, securing the processing of 150,000 tons of Hualilán material annually for three years, with a total guaranteed capacity of 450,000 tons.
Illustrative image for the article: Galan Lithium Secures Permit to Expand Production in Catamarca

Galan Lithium Secures Permit to Expand Production in Catamarca

Australian junior Galan Lithium Limited (ASX:GLN) has received approval from the Ministry of Mining of Catamarca for the Phase 2 exploitation permit for its Hombre Muerto Oeste (HMW) lithium brine project. This permit enables the company to expand its production capacity to 21,000 tons per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), subject to project financing and the implementation of Phase 1, which targets an output of 5,400 tons per year of LCE.
Illustrative image for the article: Arcadium Lithium Secures Key U.S. Approval, Advancing Rio Tinto Acquisition

Arcadium Lithium Secures Key U.S. Approval, Advancing Rio Tinto Acquisition

Arcadium Lithium, a leading global producer of lithium chemicals, has obtained approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for its acquisition by Rio Tinto. This clearance removes one of the final regulatory hurdles for the deal initially announced in October 2024.
Jujuy: Caucharí-Olaroz Surpasses 25,000 Tons of Lithium Carbonate

Jujuy: Caucharí-Olaroz Surpasses 25,000 Tons of Lithium Carbonate

Lithium Argentina reported that its lithium brine operation in Caucharí-Olaroz, located in Jujuy, achieved a record production of approximately 25,400 tons of lithium carbonate during 2024, meeting its annual targets. For 2025, the company projects an increase in production, estimating between 30,000 and 35,000 tons.
Catamarca: YMAD Opens Tender for Farallón Negro Mine Equipment

Catamarca: YMAD Opens Tender for Farallón Negro Mine Equipment

The intergovernmental company YMAD has launched Public Tender No. 002/24 to acquire a rock breaker equipment for the Farallón Negro underground mine, located in the Belén department, Catamarca. The tender is aimed at companies interested in supplying key technology for mining operations.
Mining Employment in Argentina Closes 2024 with a Downward Trend

Mining Employment in Argentina Closes 2024 with a Downward Trend

The year 2024 ends with challenges for mining employment in Argentina, marked by a sustained decline in job creation throughout the year. According to the year-end monthly report published by the Secretariat of Mining in December, 39,280 formal direct mining jobs were recorded in August 2024. This data, part of a retrospective analysis of the year, shows a 2.1% decrease compared to August 2023, equating to a loss of 824 jobs over the year and a total of 1,787 fewer jobs in the first eight months of 2024.