Phoenix
Mexico
Peru
2011
Annual Report
STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
“To the best of our knowledge this document contains truthful and sufficient information regarding the development of the
business of Southern Copper Corporation (“SCC”) during 2011. SCC takes responsibility for its contents according to appli-
cable requirements”.
“To the best of our knowledge this document contains truthful and sufficient information regarding the development of the
business of Southern Copper Corporation (“SCC”) during 2011. SCC takes responsibility for its contents according to appli-
cable requirements”.
Hans A. Flury Royle
Assistant Secretary
Hans A. Flury Royle
Assistant Secretary
Raul Jacob Ruisanchez
Raul Jacob Ruisanchez
Comptroller
Comptroller
CONVERSION INFORMATION: All tonnages in this annual report are metric tons unless otherwise noted. To convert to short
tons, multiply by 1.102. All distances are in kilometers, to convert to miles, multiply by 0.62137. All ounces are troy ounces.
U.S. dollar amounts represent either historical dollar amounts, where appropriate, or U.S. dollar equivalents translated in accor-
dance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. “SCCO”, “SCC”, “Southern Copper” or the “Com-
pany” includes Southern Copper Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. As a way to reflect the beginning of a new era
for developing the Cananea property to its full potential, on December 11, 2010, we have changed the name of the company
operating it to Buenavista del Cobre (“Buenavista”).
CONVERSION INFORMATION: All tonnages in this annual report are metric tons unless otherwise noted. To convert to short
tons, multiply by 1.102. All distances are in kilometers, to convert to miles, multiply by 0.62137. All ounces are troy ounces.
U.S. dollar amounts represent either historical dollar amounts, where appropriate, or U.S. dollar equivalents translated in accor-
dance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. “SCCO”, “SCC”, “Southern Copper” or the “Com-
pany” includes Southern Copper Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. As a way to reflect the beginning of a new era
for developing the Cananea property to its full potential, on December 11, 2010, we have changed the name of the company
operating it to Buenavista del Cobre (“Buenavista”).
LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS
PRODucTiOn STATiSTicS
cOPPER RESERvES
SELECTEd ANd FiNANCiAL dATA
EXPAnSiOn AnD MODERniZATiOn PROGRAM
EXPLORATiOn
DEvELOPMEnT - cOMMuniTY OuTREAcH
RESuLTS OF OPERATiOnS
FOR THE yEARS ENdEd dECEmbER 31, 2010, 2009 ANd 2008
cOMMiTMEnT - EnviROnMEnTAL AFFAiRS
GEnERAL inFORMATiOn
dESCRiPTiON OF OPERATiONS ANd dEVELOPmENT REGARdiNG
THE iSSUiNG ENTiTy
03
06
08
09
12
20
28
52
52
56
66
74
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DiREcTORS
110
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 01
02 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Operations at the leaching area, Toquepala mine, Tacna, Peru.
LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS
2011 was a year of new outstanding results for Southern Copper Corporation
(SCC), the production of copper - our main product - increased by 22.8%, which
joined with the improvement in the average prices of copper 17,0% and 16,9% for
the LmE and COmEX, respectively, allowed that net income for this period reached
a historic maximum level of $2,336.4 million, higher in 50.3% compared with year
2010.
Our principal operations are in mexico and Peru, in both countries we carry out an
intensive exploration program. Also, we will continue with our internationalization
policy, searching for new reserves in Latin America. Accordingly, we are making
an active exploration program in Chile, Argentina and Ecuador. in terms of
copper reserves, we believe that we hold the world’s largest reserve, ensuring the
sustainability of the Company in the long term, as well as a satisfactory return for
your investment.
in 2011, sales of the Company were $6,818.7 million, 32.4% higher than the
sales in 2010. This increase primarily resulted from higher sales volume of copper
produced in our buenavista mine and higher prices of copper, silver and zinc.
Copper mine production in 2011 reached 587,491 tons, this increase was the
result of the restoration of the buenavista mine that is currently working to 100%
of its installed capacity. The rehabilitation of the buenavista facility had a total cost
of $212.8 million. Also, the production of refined copper and rod in 2011 rose
significantly compared with 2010, allowing us to win prizes on the spot copper
price. The total production of copper for 2011 was 638,810 tons.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 03
The buenavista mine was restored at its full capacity in 2011. Now we are moving
forward with our aggressive investment program for this property, which will have
an annual production capacity of copper of 488,000 tons by 2015, an increase in
capacity higher than 170%.
Operating cash cost per pound of copper, before by-products credit, was $1.66 per
pound in 2011, compared with $1.52 per pound in 2010. in 2011, operating cash
cost per pound of copper, net of by-products, was $0.41, making SCC one of the
lowest cost producers in the industry.
Good management performance and economic results of SCC have deserved the
recognition of Standard & Poors (S&P), institution that on January 26, 2012 raised
its long term corporate credit rating on our Company to bbb from bbb-. Also, S&P
raised its rating on our “senior” notes to bbb from bbb-. S&P noted that these
ratings reflect its assessment of a satisfactory business risk profile, supported by
our low cash cost structure, geographic diversity, position as one of the world’s
largest copper producer, vertical integration and long-life reserves.
Our other strengths include high quality of our assets, low cost leadership in the
industry and our prudent financial policies, which are reflected in our financial
performance.
in 2012, we will continue our aggressive mining and metallurgical capital investment
projects over the next five years. This year, as part of our investment program, the
Company spend $1.5 billion, of which approximately $1 billion would be invested
in mexico and $500 million in Peru. This investment aims to increase our copper
and molybdenum production capacity, while maintaining the low-cost leadership
of our Company.
04 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Capital and exploration expenditures in 2011 were $612.9 million, which were
invested in our mexican operations, mainly in the rehabilitation of the benefit plant,
the expansion of the mine and concentrator in the buenavista del Cobre mine; as
well as in Peru, through improvements in the Toquepala and Cuajone concentrators.
Social programs of the Company continue running in all our operating areas,
especially for the benefit of the surrounding communities. in mexico, for the
community next to the buenavista mine we rebuild the hospital, modernize the
library and carry out various works of infrastructure. in Peru, we continue with
our improvement program for the irrigation infrastructure in the highlands, this
enhances the use of water, the quality of pastures, livestock feed, all of which
impacts favorably on our surrounding communities.
On behalf of Southern Copper Corporation’s board, we express our thanks to all our
personnel for their effort, hard work and dedication, to our clients for their continued
trust and loyalty, and to you, our shareholders, for your permanent support.
GERmAN LARREA mOTA VELASCO
Chairman of the board
OSCAR GONzALEz ROCHA XAViER GARCiA dE QUEVEdO
President and Chief Executive Officer
President and Chief Executive Officer
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 05
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
(tons)
(thousand)
(thousand ounces)
502,909
465,973
121,518
587,491
18,570
83,807
12,731
398,953
397,030
81,497
478,527
20,519
99,194
12,646
355,727
424,199
61,177
485,376
18,687
110,430
13,202
343,762
418,726
70,203
488,929
16,390
106,920
12,316
406,059
498,207
93,976
592,183
16,208
121,013
15,229
Copper production mines
mined material
Copper in concentrates
Copper SX/EW
Total Copper
molybdenum in concentrates
zinc in concentrates
Silver in concentrates
Smelter/refineries production
12,731
06 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
SOUTheRN COPPeR CORPORATION AND SUbSIDIARIeS
FIVe-YeAR SeLeCTeD FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL DATA
For the years ended december 31
(in millions, except per share amounts, employee
data and stock and financial ratios)
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
Consolidated Statement of earnings
Net sales
Operating costs and expenses
Operating income
Non-controlling interest of investments
shares on Peruvian branch income
$ 6,819
3,193
3,625
$ 5,149
2,545
2,604
$ 3,734
2,249
1,485
$ 4,851
2,649
2,202
$ 6,086
2,588
3,497
8
9
5
8
10
Net earnings attributable to SCC
$ 2,336
$ 1,554
$ 929
$ 1,407
$ 2,216
Per share amount (1)
Net earnings attributable to SCC – basic and diluted
dividends paid
Consolidated balance sheet
Total assets
Cash and cash equivalent
Total debt
Total equity
$ 2.76
$ 2.46
$ 1.83
$ 1.68
$ 1.09
$ 0.44
$ 1.60
$ 1.94
$ 2.51
$ 2.27
$ 8 , 0 6 3
848
2,746
$ 4,036
$ 8,128
2,193
2,760
$ 3,910
$ 6,058
772
1,280
$ 3,894
$ 5,764
717
1,290
$ 3,395
$ 6,581
1,409
1,450
$ 3,865
Consolidated statement of cash flows
Cash provided from operating activities
dividend paid
Capital expenditures
depreciation & depletion
Capital stock (2)
$ 2,070
$ 1,921
$
963
$ 1,728
$ 2,703
2,080
613
288
$
1,428
409
$ 282
376
415
$ 274
1,711
524
$ 327
2,002
316
$ 328
Common shares outstanding (in thousands)
NySE price – high
NySE price – low
book value per share
P/E ratio
840.9
$ 49.59
$ 23.99
4.77
$
10.93
850
$ 48.84
$ 26.19
$ 4.58
26.66
850
$ 36.40
$ 12.74
$ 4.56
30.12
854.9
$ 41.34
$ 9.19
$ 3.96
10.03
883.4
$ 47.12
$ 16.84
$ 4.36
14.05
Financial ratios
Current assets to current liabilities
Net debt as % of capitalization
Employees (at year end)
3.12
32.0%
12,145
3.28
12.7%
11,510
3.04
11.5%
11,494
2.17
14.4%
12,268
2.91
1.0%
12,225
(1) The number of shares and values per share has been adjusted to reflect the 2008 stock splits.
(2) Represents net debt divided by net debt plus equity. Net debt is total debt minus cash and cash equivalents balances.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 09
$1,500
MILLION IN EXPANSION AND MODERNIZATION PROGRAM
IN 2011, SALES Of ThE COMPANy wERE 32.4%
hIGhER ThAN ThE SALES IN 2010
010 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Truck at the buenavista del Cobre mine, mexico.
$1,500
MILLION IN EXPANSION AND MODERNIZATION PROGRAM
IN 2011, SALES Of ThE COMPANy wERE 32.4%
hIGhER ThAN ThE SALES IN 2010
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 011
EXPAnSiOn AnD MODERniZATiOn
We are committed to continuing the growth of our Company. in 2012 we will continue
PROGRAM
with our capital investment program. We have budgeted $1.5 billion in spending for
the year. Spending in mexico is estimated to be $1.0 billion including approximately
$0.7 billion for our buenavista investment program and, in Peru $0.5 billion. This
investment is part of our five year capital investment program to increase production
of copper and molybdenum. in general, capital expenditures and investment projects
that are described below will help us to increase production and/or reduce costs.
Capital spending plans will continue to be reviewed and adjusted in response to
changes in the economy or market conditions.
We expect to meet the cash requirements for these projects from cash on hand,
internally generated funds and from additional external financing, if required.
Mexican Operations
SXEW iii plant at the buenavista mine: : After obtaining the necessary environmental
permits, the construction of the plant has started. Some of the equipment originally
purchased for the Tia maria project will be used for this SXEW plant. This will allow
us to increase the annual SXEW plant capacity from 88,000 tons to 120,000 tons. The
new plant should begin operating in the second half of 2013. The project has a total
budget cost of $444 million, with $8.6 million spent through december 31, 2011.
Crushing, conveying and spreading system at buenavista: Associated with the SXEW iii
project, we are also building a Quebalix facility at buenavista. This investment consists
in a crushing, conveying and spreading system that improves the SXEW copper
production by increasing recovery and reducing the required time to extract copper from
mineral. Overall progress is 88% and this facility is expected to begin operating in the
second quarter of 2012. The project has a total budgeted cost of $70 million, with $48.7
million expended through december 31, 2011.
molybdenum plant at buenavista: buenavista’s new 2,000 ton per year molybdenum
circuit is in the equipment purchasing stage, under an engineering, procurement,
construction and management contract. Environmental permits will be obtained
shortly and we expect to begin construction in the first quarter of 2012, with production
012 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
beginning in the second quarter of 2013. The project has a total budget cost of $38.2
million with $1.2 million expended through december 31, 2011.
New buenavista concentrator: The new buenavista concentrator, with a milling
capacity of 100,000 tons per day, is in process. basic and detailed engineering are
moving forward as scheduled. Environmental permits have been obtained. We are
evaluating several supplier proposals for the main equipment. Purchase orders for
crushers, primary and secondary ball mills and motors have been placed. The new
concentrator will have an estimated annual production of 188,000 tons of copper and
2,600 tons of molybdenum. it is expected to begin operation by 2015. Total budget
cost of this project is $1.4 billion.
Required infrastructure for these projects, including power, water, roads, shops,
laboratories, townsites, etc., is included in the master plan. A preliminary study has
been delivered and we are working to have these projects aligned.
Pilares project: On October 27, 2011, the board of directors approved the
development of the second stage of the Pilares mine, with a budget of $136.3
San Luis Potosi, mexico
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 013
million. in 2008, we acquired 100% ownership of Pilares, with the intention of
operating it as an open pit facility. Current mineralized resources are estimated
at 43.4 million tons with 0.789% of copper sulfide content and 0.077% copper
oxide. We expect to increase copper production by 40,000 tons per year by sending
mineral from the Pilares site to our La Caridad concentrator. Pilares should begin
operations by the third quarter of 2013.
Angangueo: Also, in October 2011, the board of directors approved an expenditure
of $131 million for the development of the Angangueo mine. This site in michoacan,
mexico, is a polymetallic deposit with an annual production potential of 36,000 tons of
copper, 4.5 million ounces of silver and 41,000 tons of zinc. in 2012, we expect to start
the underground development and the construction of a 2,000 tons per day concentrator
will begin. The project is scheduled to begin production in the second half of 2014.
Peruvian Operations
Toquepala concentrator expansion: : Through december 31, 2011, we have spent
$199 million on the Toquepala expansion, mainly on mine equipment which is being
used for the initial stripping of the project. The scope of the project has been defined
as an increase in milling capacity to 120,000 tons per day which should increase
annual production by 100,000 tons of copper and 3,100 tons of molybdenum. The
EiA for the project was presented to miNEm in July 2011. As part of the approval
process for the EiA a public hearing was held at Toquepala in September 2011, but as
a result of off-site protests the Peruvian government declared the hearing invalid. We
are awaiting direction from the Peruvian government to move forward with the process
of approval of the EiA. Assuming we receive approval of the EiA on a timely basis,
project completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2014.
014 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Cuajone concentrator expansion: Through december 31, 2011, we have spent $80.2
million on the Cuajone expansion project. As a first stage of the expansion plans, the
project includes a variable cut-off grade methodology which will allow us to increase
copper and molybdenum production. When finished, the project will increase copper
production by 22,000 tons per year. Project completion of this stage is scheduled for
the third quarter of 2012.
Tailings disposal at Quebrada Honda: This project increases the height of the existing
Quebrada Honda dam to impound future tailings from the Toquepala and Cuajone
mills and will extend the expected life of this tailings facility by 25 years. The first
stage of the tailings disposal project was completed. Construction of the drainage
system for the lateral dam, started in June 2010, was finished. The project has a total
budgeted cost of $66.0 million with $47.7 million expended through december 31,
2011.
Tantahuatay: The Tantahuatay mine is located in Cajamarca, in northern Peru.
Production started in August 2011 and the mine produced 46,200 ounces of gold and
260,100 ounces of silver in 2011. Tantahuatay is expected to have an average annual
production of 90,000 ounces of gold and 425,000 ounces of silver for five years. We
have a 44.2% participation in this project.
Tia maria project: We have initiated a bidding process to prepare a new EiA study for
the project. We are confident that this initiative will convey a positive effect to our
stakeholders and will allow us to obtain approval for the development of the 120,000
ton annual production copper project. As a consequence, we are rescheduling the
project start up to the beginning of 2015. Additionally, some of the equipment already
purchased is being assigned to our operations at buenavista, Toquepala, and Cuajone.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 015
Potential projects
El Arco: El Arco is a world class copper deposit in the central part of the baja California
peninsula, with estimated mineralized material of over 1.0 billion tons with an ore
grade of 0.51% and 14 grams of gold per ton. This project is expected to produce
190,000 tons of copper and 105,000 ounces of gold annually. We continue to invest
in land acquisition required for the project. in 2010, the project feasibility study was
completed at a cost of $15.0 million.
We have a number of projects that we may develop in the future. We evaluate new
projects on the basis of our long-term corporate objectives, expected return on
investment, environmental concerns, required investment and estimated production,
among other considerations. All capital spending plans will continue to be reviewed
and adjusted to respond to changes in the economy or market conditions.
The above information is based on estimates only. We cannot make any assurance
that we will undertake any of these projects or that the information noted is accurate.
016 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Casting wheel at the ilo copper smelter, Peru.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 017
$37.5
wE INVESTED $37.5 MILLION IN EXPLORATION PROGRAMS
wE ARE ENGAGED IN ONGOING EXTENSIVE EXPLORATION TO LOCATE ADDITIONAL
ORE BODIES IN PERU, MEXICO, ARGENTINA, ECUADOR AND ChILE.
Spreader working on the leaching area at Toquepala mine, Peru.
018 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
$37.5
wE INVESTED $37.5 MILLION IN EXPLORATION PROGRAMS
wE ARE ENGAGED IN ONGOING EXTENSIVE EXPLORATION TO LOCATE ADDITIONAL
ORE BODIES IN PERU, MEXICO, ARGENTINA, ECUADOR AND ChILE.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 019
Operating a crane, San Luis Potosi, mexico.
EXPLORATiOn
We are engaged in ongoing extensive exploration to locate additional ore bodies in
Peru, mexico, Argentina, Ecuador and Chile. We also conduct exploration in the
areas of our current mining operations. We invested $37.5 million in exploration
programs in 2011, $34.3 million in 2010 and $24.6 million in 2009 and we expect to
spend approximately $44.8 million in exploration programs in 2012.
Currently in Peru, we have direct control of 145,064 hectares of mineral rights. in
mexico, we currently hold 176,250 hectares of exploration concessions. We also
currently hold 21,068 hectares, 35,958 hectares and 2,544 hectares of exploration
concessions in Argentina, Chile and Ecuador, respectively.
MeXICO
in addition to exploratory drilling programs at existing mines, we are currently
conducting exploration to locate mineral deposits at various other sites in mexico.
The following are some of the more significant exploration projects:
020 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
El Arco. The El Arco site is a copper deposit located in the state of baja California in
mexico. Exploration work at the site indicates approximately 1,207 million tons of
mineralized sulfide material with an average copper content of 0.5% and 0.125 grams
of gold per ton and 290 million tons of copper oxide with 0.35% copper grade. in
2010, a deep drilling program of 1,214 meters indicated approximately 390 million
tons of mineralized material with 0.62% of copper content below the current pit
limits. As we have a large mineralized material database for this project, we decided
to postpone the deep drilling program to the future, consequently no drilling was done
in 2011 and none is planned for 2012.
A water source for the leaching operation was identified in 2009 and in 2010 four
new production wells were drilled and confirmed an underground water availability of
300 liters per second in the area. during 2011, all documentation required to obtain
a water concession for 300 liters per second was filed. We expect to receive the title
for these water rights in the first half of 2012.
The feasibility study performed in 2010 was completed in 2011. during the last year
most of our activities were related to infrastructure issues such as land, power and
port facilities. We expect to resolve these issues in 2012.
Angangueo. The Angangueo site is located in the state of michoacan in mexico. A
deposit of 13 million tons of mineralized material has been identified with diamond
drilling. Testing indicates that the deposit has mineralized material containing 0.16
grams of gold and 262 grams of silver per ton, with 0.79% lead, 0.97% copper
and 3.5% zinc. in 2011 we concluded the feasibility study and in October 2011 an
investment of $130.7 million was approved for the development of the Angangueo
mine. Please see “Capital investment Programs” under item 7 of our Form 10-K for
further information.
buenavista-zinc (formerly named buenavista). The buenavista-zinc site is located in
the state of Sonora, mexico and forms part of the buenavista ore body. drilling and
metallurgical studies have shown that the zinc-copper deposit contains approximately
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 021
36 million tons of mineralized material containing 29 grams of silver per ton, 0.69%
copper and 3.3% zinc. A new “scoping level” study indicates that buenavista-zinc
may be an economic deposit. due to labor strike activities at the buenavista mine no
work was performed from 2008 through 2010. in 2011, 11,956 meters of diamond
drilling were executed to confirm grade and acquire geotechnical information. in
2012, the buenavista-zinc mine plan will be integrated with the overall mine plan of
the buenavista pit. Also we expect to conclude the final metallurgical testing and the
feasibility study in 2012.
Carbon Coahuila. in Coahuila, an intensive exploration program of diamond drilling
has identified two additional areas, Esperanza with a potential for more than 30 million
tons of “in place” mineralized coal and Guayacan with a potential for 15 million tons
of “in place” mineralized coal, that could be used for a future coal-fired power plant.
during 2010, 1,213 meters of diamond drilling were completed at the Rosita pit area
and with this drilling, 10,100 tons of mineralized coal were added to the mineralized
material estimates for this open pit project. in 2011, 2,640 meters distributed in
68 drilling holes were executed. This resulted in an increase of 178,000 tons of
new mineralized material at the Nueva Rosita pit. For 2012, a 5,000 meters drilling
program is planned for the La Conquista pit.
The Chalchihuites. The Chalchihuites site is located in the state of zacatecas. it
is a replacement deposit with mixed oxides and sulfides of lead, copper, zinc and
silver. A drilling program, in the late 1990s, defined 16 million tons of mineralized
material containing 95 grams of silver, 0.36% lead, 0.69% copper and 3.08% zinc per
ton. Preliminary metallurgical testing indicates that a leaching precipitating-flotation
recovery process can be applied to this ore. in 2009, we started a prefeasibility study
which is expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter 2012. in 2010 and
2011, we added several claims and performed a 9,386 meters drilling program that
022 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
indicated at least seven million tons of mineralized material containing 979 grams of
silver, 0.41% lead, 0.52% copper and 2.53% zinc. during 2012, we plan to continue
the drilling program, metallurgical testing and related studies.
Pilares. Located in the state of Sonora, Pilares is ten kilometers from the town of
Nacozari de Garcia and six straight line kilometers from our La Caridad mine. in
2008, we acquired 100% ownership of Pilares, with the intention of operating it as
an open pit facility. in October 2011, an investment of $136.3 million was approved
for the development of the second stage of the Pilares mine. Please see “Capital
investment Programs” under item 7 of our Form 10-K for further information.
Sierra de Lobos. This project is located southwest of the city of Leon, Guanajuato.
drilling in 2008 confirmed the presence of copper and zinc mineralization, but an
economic deposit has not yet been identified. due to the changes in our investment
program priorities, no work was performed in 2009, 2010 and 2011. We expect to
resume drilling activities in the second quarter of 2012.
PERU
Los Chancas. The Los Chancas project, located in the department of Apurimac in
southern Peru, is a copper and molybdenum porphyry deposit. As a result of the
pre-feasibility studies and after the preliminary design of the pit, estimates show 355
million tons of mineralized material with a copper content of 0.62%, molybdenum
content of 0.05% and 0.039 grams of gold per ton. during 2011, we completed the
pre-feasibility study and we plan to conduct a feasibility study of the project in 2012.
Tantahuatay. The Tantahuatay mine, located in the department of Cajamarca in
northern Peru, started operations in July 2011. Please see “Capital investment
Programs” under item 7 of our Form 10-K for further information.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 023
Other Peruvian Prospects
As part of the 2011 exploration program, we concluded a program of 1,652 meters
of diamond drilling at the Huallas (Chinchinga) project (a skarn of copper-lead-zinc)
located in the department of Ayacucho and 6,268 meters of diamond drilling at the
Clara project (copper porphyry) located in southern Peru. These prospects are on
hold as we evaluate the results of the drilling program.
For 2012 we are considering developing a diamond drilling program of approximately
30,000 meters for some prospects located in the northern and southern parts of Peru,
including at El Penon, a copper and gold project, located in the north. We will continue
with the regional exploration program at several other Peruvian mineralized zones.
CHiLE
Ticnamar. The Ticnamar prospect, located in northern Chile, has been explored as
a deposit with copper-molybdenum porphyric veins. in 2011, a diamond drilling
program of 1,124 meters was completed. For 2012 we plan to continue exploration
with a diamond drilling program of 3,000 meters.
Catanave. Located in northern Chile (Arica), Catanave belongs to a mineralized
epithermal system of gold and silver. in 2010, the environmental impact study was
approved and during 2011, 2,189 meters of diamond drilling were completed. This
prospect has good possibilities and for 2012 we plan to continue exploration with a
diamond drilling program of 3,000 meters.
Santa marta. Located in the Atacama region, Santa marta is being explored for copper
and molybdenum porphyry. during 2011 and 2010, we diamond drilled 2,837 meters
and 3,318 meters, respectively showing promising results. Exploration will continue
in 2012, with a diamond drilling program of 4,000 meters.
024 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
San benito. Located in the Atacama region, San benito was explored for copper and
molybdenum porphyry. in 2010, a diamond drilling program of 3,241 meters was
completed. The prospect is currently pending further evaluation.
El Salado. A copper-gold prospect located in the Atacama region, northern Chile.
during 2011 we evaluated the information available for the prospect in order to plan
the work to be done in the next stage. For 2012, we plan a diamond drilling program
of 5,000 meters and metallurgical testing laboratory.
Resguardo de la Costa. A copper-gold prospect located in northern Chile (Atacama
area). This prospect is on hold, pending further evaluation.
Other Chilean Prospects
For 2012, we plan to continue with a regional exploration program oriented to locate
systems mainly of porphyritics of copper and molybdenum.
ECUAdOR
in 2011, we started exploration activities in Ecuador. For 2012, we expect to
begin exploration work on the Chaucha prospect, located south of Guayaquil. The
mineralization is characteristic of a copper-molybdenum porphyry system. in 2012,
we plan a program of 10,000 meters of diamond drilling to evaluate the deposit.
ARGENTiNA
in the last quarter of 2011 we started exploration activities in Argentina. We plan to
carry out explorations in the south of Argentina, where mineralization for porphyry
copper, epithermal gold and silver and polymetallic skarns is expected.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 025
$77.0
MILLION DURING 2006 -2011
SOUThERN COPPER CONTRIBUTES TO IMPROVING
ITS COMMUNITy IN MEXICO AND PERU
improvement of the sheep animals in Tacna, Peru.
026 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
$77.0
MILLION DURING 2006 -2011
SOUThERN COPPER CONTRIBUTES TO IMPROVING
ITS COMMUNITy IN MEXICO AND PERU
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 027
Greenhouse in San Luis Potosi, mexico
RELATiOnS WiTH THE cOMMuniTY
Sonora Award for Philanthropy
Mexico
buenavista del Cobre received the “Sonora Award for Philanthropy” from state
Governor Guillermo Padres Elias. The private sector company earned its distinction
for its contribution to improving its community by promoting values such as solidarity,
social responsibility and commitment to the development of the state of Sonora.
The prize aims at promoting the ideal of social commitment and solidarity efforts
through community action programs aimed at improving communities and
encouraging service to others, recognizing and disseminating the experiences of
institutions, companies and individuals who perform them, encouraging reflection on
specific social problems, encouraging cooperation and fostering a culture of altruistic
behavior for the benefit Sonora’s society.
Community Centers
during 2011, a total 85 federal, state and municipal as well as civil society organizations
were involved in a range of social wellbeing and human capital strengthening programs
organized in Community development Centers. Likewise, 280 of community outreach
days, 31 town hall meetings with city councils and neighborhood groups to identify
the communities’ main problems, as well as 570 campaigns to disseminate various
activities, 105 meetings with institutions related to social interventions and 61 debate
sessions were organized.
028 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Other activities included 112 four month courses in cosmetology, sewing, cooking,
jewelry making, bakery, handicrafts, woodworking and baking trained to 1,720 people
over 15 years old, 420 of whom established their own business ventures with profiling
and incubation advice provided to 105 productive projects.
Counseling and workshops for environmental school brigades, talks on health
promotion and preventive medicine, community service days, physical reactivation,
open adults’ primary and secondary literacy training sessions, human development
courses, psychosocial counseling and information day sessions on addiction
prevention.
“Our Healthy People” Campaign
A total of 24 awareness campaigns and 32 sessions on topics such as overweight,
obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure were organized in the premises of Charcas
and Electrolytic zinc Refinery business units. Active worker participation helped to
identify five groups of overweight, diabetic and high blood pressure workers. medical
staff from the mexican Social Security institute (imSS) conducted theoretical and
practical group sessions to provide information on a proper diets and good eating
habits, food myths and realities, food portions and equivalents, sedentary living, and
disease prevention with the aim of improving the level and quality of individual, family
and community living.
People from San Luis Potosi, mexico.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 029
Sports Academy
To encourage sports among children ages 6 to 18 years through a methodology of
physical reactivation and performance in specific programs of organized sport, this
program incorporates values and prevention of psychosocial risks components as
formative elements that should enhance the quality of living of individuals, families
and communities at large.
in the first stage of the project three units were opened in Nacozari, and Esqueda,
Sonora and Nueva Rosita communities, in Coahuila. Collaborative work with the
States’ Sports Commissions and municipal institutes of Sport, among others, ensured
sharing of social responsibility as a trigger for the common good. in the second stage,
three units are planned to be opened in the neighboring communities of the Santa
barbara, Charcas and zinc Refinery units in Chihuahua and San Luis Potosi states,
respectively.
Sports Academy is funded by various types of organizations, both private and public,
and use sports facilities operated by communities as well as our company’s.
“Participate for Cananea”. A success story
To create a new social relationship with the town of Cananea and for the town-s good, in
2008 Grupo mexico launched a community project to values, strengthen the social fabric
and foster unity. The company wanted to have a closer relationship with the community
and so the “Participating for Cananea” project was born including improvements in
school buildings, social infrastructure and social development components.
“Participating for Cananea”
“Participating for Cananea” is sponsored since 2008 by Grupo mexico to promote
community involvement projects in three fields of concern, namely school buildings,
social infrastructure and social development. These projects are approved by the
030 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Community Committee of Cananea, an organization created by volunteer community
leaders from different walks who are responsible for reviewing, approving and
monitoring the smooth running of projects. The Committee is a multiple stakeholder
and transparent body that provides reliability for the allocation and monitoring of the
resources provided by Grupo mexico.
a) School facilities: Construction, repair or equipping of schools.
b) Social infrastructure: infrastructure and equipment for non-governmental institutions.
c) Social development: Projects aimed at building community social and human
capital including training, advice and facilitation. These projects train leaders who
contribute to the wellbeing of Cananea and have a multiplier effect on program
building.
So far, Grupo mexico has invested $ 1.74 million in these projects.
during 2011, 40 school infrastructure projects, 5 projects to support service
institutions, 25 social development projects and a project to strengthen the “meeting
House” Community Center benefited from Grupo mexico´s support under this
program.
Support was provided including rehabilitation of sports facilities, classrooms,
improved sanitation, improved technology and knowledge development (libraries
and auditoriums), improvements in infrastructure or equipment suitable for non-
governmental institutions or community service so they can continue to provide
efficient services and activities to encourage sport, culture, and health.
investing on community development
Grupo mexico’s investment in its communities has been multiplied. A Social Return
on investment (SROi) analysis shows an assessment based on volunteer time and
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 031
free services generated or at nominal cost of projects, the average social average
return from our investment is $ 2.47 for every dollar invested. This evidences the
mature relationship between the company and the people, shared responsibility and
the community’s strong commitment.
Transformative social impact
The life of more than 35,000 people has been impacted directly in a positive way through
the various workshops, classes and services provided by several social development
projects and nearly 700,000 hours of service. Furthermore, over 28,000 users have
benefited from diverse social and educational infrastructure support projects.
Changes resulting from social development projects are measured to facilitate
evaluation of results. individual project activities are monitored and data is used to
evaluate project performance by number of beneficiaries, service hours generated,
economic value of services provided, economic value of volunteer time, and more.
These data are introduced periodically to a virtual database, generating a Social
impact Assessment Chart available online at:
http://impactosocialcananea.weebly.com.
Project leaders can review their results and assess the impact of their projects and
the meeting House’s overall footprint in the community, and compare results from
previous periods. The program seeks to provide individual local leaders with the
ability to impact positively on their communities by adjusting their projects as needed
and thus multiply the benefits they provide.
Commitments
derived from the social development programs comprised in the “Participate for
Cananea” initiative, good results with the community and closer working relations
with the Sonora State and Federal governments based on progress on social issues
032 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
accomplished by Grupo mexico’s efforts since 2008, the company committed to
undertake certain initiatives for the benefit of the population and invest in infrastructure,
education, health and an expansion plan for the buenavista del Cobre mine.
With these investments, the state of Sonora and the region, but especially the people
of Cananea, will benefit from new conditions. in June 2010 and after a long inactivity
period, protracted labor talks, and after work relations between mexicana de Cananea,
a Grupo mexico subsidiary, and the miners’ union had been declared non-existent,
work resumed at the mine, thus marking the beginning of the process to evaluate and
rehabilitate the mine.
Today, 18 months later, buenavista del Cobre has returned to full activity. People’s
perceptions have changed. A survey conducted by bGC Ulises beltran and Associates
in may 2010 showed 91% of the population felt life in Cananea had deteriorated
or remained stagnant since 2009 until then. However, from July 2010 to October
2011, and after the mine reopened, more than 63% of the people thought that since
operations at the mine had resumed, things had improved or at least not deteriorated
further. Given the company’s plans for mine expansion, growth and continued
engagement with the community, this is indeed a very encouraging outlook.
The signed agreements include social and urban infrastructure, health services and
education.
- Paving of five streets near the mine to improve workers’ access to their workplace
and improve access roads.
- improved access road to the industrial Park.
- Five wells drilled and completed to improve the city’s safe water supply.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 033
- Adjustments were performed and reconstruction of the Cananea General Hospital
was improved and repaired including a new drainage system, repair of electrical
systems, new cistern tanks, heating and air conditioning, pipe repair and civil
engineering and general finishing.
- donation of pickup to iAP Private Charity Committee to start the “Road to Life”
program. Road to Life will comfort patients traveling from Cananea to Hermosillo
and Nogales for hemodialysis and oncology treatments, and women requiring
mammographies.
- Construction of a new secondary hospital to be operated by the mexican Social
Security institute of the State of Sonora will begin in 2012. This a tripartite Federal
Government, State and business project.
- “Participate for Cananea” projects demanded over 58,096 man hours for benefited
156 institutions through support for school infrastructure building and social
development. benefits include donations of equipment and furniture, and remodeling
school and institutions’ facilities. “Grupo Encuentro” organized cultural, educational
and recreational activities to get closer to the community.
-The Cananea Library received modern computer and printing equipment to improve
its services to over 3000 monthly visitors.
- Grupo mexico Foundation and becalos (“Give them a scholarship” in Spanish)
Foundation distributed 120 scholarships to teachers and students.
- A baseball field and basketball court were built at the Cananea institute of
Technology.
034 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
- A 22 hectare land plot was purchased to build an entertainment center featuring
cinemas, shops, a food court, hotel, gym, indoor pool, soccer field, basketball court,
baseball field and a jogging track.
-A mining museum will be built at the Entertainment Center.
- Refurbishing of the handicrafts workshop area for training in doing work with copper.
Getting together with kids in San Luis Potosi, mexico.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 035
- Opening and refurbishing the mine has created major opportunities for suppliers
who now have increased their supply of services, parts, repairs, equipment
maintenance, etc.
Operations in Peru
Southern Copper promotes sustainable development projects in communities located
its area of influence in Tacna, moquegua, Arequipa and Apurimac regions. Southern
Cooper’s contributions appear in the framework of its social responsibility policy
and are made through the Asociacion Civil Ayuda del Cobre to which Southern
Peru contributed $77.2 million between 2006 and 2010. These contributions were
included in the mining industry’s Solidarity with the People (PmSP by its acronym in
Spanish) Program agreed with the Peruvian State. The PmSP concluded in 2010, but
unspent amounts were disbursed throughout 2011.
The Program’s projects and activities aimed at encouraging partnerships with public
institutions and NGOs to achieve maximum benefit for neighboring populations
with full respect for existing national laws and regulations, and individual town’s
cultural traditions.
in 2011, Southern Copper conducted the following programs and/or projects:
Water and road infrastructure
Tacna Region
Through the Asociacion Civil Ayuda del Cobre (ACAC) and an agreement with the
National Engineering University (UNi), the Callazas dam (Candarave). Feasibility
Study is being prepared. The study includes the following elements:
Component 1- Study of dam and complementary works;
036 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Component 2- major infrastructure works for transmission and distribution, irrigation
and agricultural development, and
Component 3 - Study of environmental and social impact of the Callazas River water
regulation system.
The cost of the study reaches about $1.3 million. The project should ensure the
rational and optimal use of irrigation water by building facilities to store 10 million
cubic meters of water annually that will be available during the dry season.
Likewise, the feasibility study for improving the Cambay-Camilaca ilabaya Road
has reached its final phase. The project includes two road segments totaling 41.7
kilometers. The road will be widened, ballasted, resurfaced and berms will be built at
a total cost of $0.44 million.
Work has continued for building irrigation infrastructure, in partnership with
Candarave farmers, at an investment of $0.46 million. We ended improvements on
the Patapatani-Santa Cruz connecting canal. New lining along 5.75 km of canals
will increase water flow to a 70 liters per second optimal rate. Also, 6.2 km of the
Camilaca Tacalaya connection canal were concrete lined.
Santa Cruz water reservoir was rehabilitated, with a capacity of 17,280 m³, thus raising
water flow to 8 liters per second. The total investment in these projects amounted to
approximately $1.3 million.
in Camilaca district, in Candarave, the local government is building the Vila Vila
reservoir and conduction canall withSouthern Peru’s support through ACAC. We
provide professional advice, construction materials and personal protection gear for
workers. Our contribution reached $0.15 million.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 037
in September 2010, Southern Copper started the pre-investment profile study l for
the construction of the Cularjahuira dam and irrigation system, in Camilaca district
(Candarave). The pre-feasibility study has been prepared and submitted to the SNiP
Project bank under code number 175950. in december 2011, the study was submitted
for evaluation by the Public investment Projects Unit of Tacna’s regional government.
This project should benefit 1724 people in Candarave province.
The Candarave modern irrigation pilot program, underway since June 2011, aims at
creating awareness among five irrigation water boards (Cairani, Candarave, Huanuara,
Quilahuani and Totora) of the importance of adopting modern irrigation technology as
a viable technical alternative to mitigate irrigation water loss and soil erosion.
moquegua Region
Roads were paved and sidewalks built in Pueblo Nuevo (Pacocha district, province
of ilo). Flexible pavement was built over 37,766.17 square meters, including road
markings and concrete works (curbs, containment walls, sidewalks). A total 631.07
square meters of paved roads were improved (including resurfacing) or rebuilt. The
power grid was likewise improved, including a new layout for the city power grid, at
a total cost of $2.7million.
maintenance and improvement of irrigation infrastructure for the Water Users’ board of
Torata. This project benefits 1,200 farmers. it started in mid-2011, with the donation
building our future, social program in ilo, Peru.
038 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
of 186 gates, and repair of seven, which were distributed among the four committees
comprised in the Users’ board. better transport of irrigation water will reduce water
loss along driving and connecting canals. Concrete was also provided to install the
gates. in 2012, another 276 gates and 67 bags of cement will be donated, while three
additional gates will be repaired.
Supporting value chains and sustainable development
Tacna Region
modernization of dairy farming in Locumba district (Jorge basadre, Tacna), from
September to december 2011. The project was implemented in partnership with the
Provincial municipality of Jorge basadre and included distributing of 34 milking
systems. The project was funded by voluntary contributions managed by ACAC, and
benefited 80 farmers located in strategic areas of the Locumba Valley. Automated
milking equipment can extract milk better and faster, reducing losses caused by
manual milking and especially under conditions of higiene to obtain fresh milk.
ilabaya Oregano Processing Plant. A project in borogueña, ilabaya district, started in
September 2011. The technical file included the studies for the primary power grid
at 10 Kv and 25 kW distribution substation for the plant. The facilities will provide
power for the oregano plant to operate. The power grid has now been completed.
Complementary work by the local government is pending.
Scion of oregano in Candarave, Tacna, Peru.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 039
by strengthening Candarave oregano farmers’ competitiveness, Southern Peru
expects to expand oregano cropping in Candarave where oregano is the main
agricultural produce. For this project, Southern Peru partnered with Taller NGO. The
project ran from december 2010 to September 2011 and aimed at improving oregano
productivity and enhancing processing and marketing.
Since September 2011, a project funded by FONdOEmPLEO will support oregano
farmers for an additional three years. in this project, Southern Peru provides
complementary funding for those areas not covered by FONdOEmPLEO.
A specific agreement with AgroRural will introduce quinoa in Candarave’s Curibaya
and Candarave districts. SPCC support this project launched in November 2011. The
program benefits 70 farmers and has planted 15 hectares to quinoa that are now in
the fertilization stage.
SmE workshops in Jorge basadre. With CiCEF consultancy, three training workshops
were taught on how to establish and finance small and microcompanies in the
districts of Locumba, ite and ilabaya. The workshops were attended by 180 people.
This activity took place in August 2011.
Livestock farmers in 17 communities located in the districts of Cairani, Candarave,
Huanuara and Quilahuani are particularly interested in our animal health program.
Our company provides technical animal health assistance for diseases prevalent in
the province. This service is provided individually to each farmer. An average 3,000
cases are examined every year.
The cattle and sheep breeding program is underway in Cairani and Huanuara districts
where two breeding centers have been provided equipment, materials and medicines,
355 frozen semen straws, two brown Swiss and two Holstein breed reproducers. This
040 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
program also includes technical training for livestock producers in artificial cattle and
sheep insemination. in both districts, 181 cows have been seeded.
Southern also supports the organization, logistics, execution and award giving at
farming and livestock fairs in Aricota, Tacalaya, Huaytire and Huanuara (in Candarave
province). These events include exhibits of the best individuals of various cattle
breeds, South American camelids (animals under controlled seasonal mating), sheep,
and Peruvian Paso horses, and typical local plant produce.
The Huaytire Comprehensive Program, in Tacna’s Candarave province, has been
running since 2007. About 84% of the program has been executed at a total cost of
$0.43 million for the benefit of 480 residents of Huaytire town.
This program included the following projects:
- breeding program of South American camelids, which consisted of: Purchase of
42 reproducers, selection of alpacas with phenotypic and genotypic characteristics
suitable for seasonal controled mating, building of breeding facilities, purchase
of medicines for animal health care and permanent care for camelids in the area.
One of the achievements of this program has been the breeding of 283 specimens
of high economic value. The previous value of a local specimen was $54.49. Their
current value is an estimated $254.27.Additionally, alpaca fiber price has risen
from $1.07 to $3.21 per pound.it is noteworthy that a livestock census in Huaytire
revealed an existing herd of 6,521 alpacas, 980 llamas and 354 sheep, and 70
livestock farmers.
- implementation of 30 eco-friendly stoves that will improve the quality of living for
residents of Huaytire by preventing eye and lung diseases resulting from exposure
to fumes.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 041
Operation at San Luis Potosi, mexico.
042 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
- improving conditions for education in pre- school and primary and secondary
schools in Huaytire thanks to a donation of school supplies and uniforms.
- Presentation of scholarships to outstanding students in Huaytire so they can pursue
further studies at a higher learning school.
- improved power supply in Huaytire, thanks to a medium voltage electrification
system for the Huaytire slaughterhouse, refurbishment of the transmission line and
maintenance of the street lighting system.
- To support local fisheries an outboard motor adapted to the type of vessel used
locally has helped to enhance safety of small scale fishermen of Huaytire.
moquegua Region
Technical Training and Agricultural mechanization Project for Torata district, a
project run from November 2010 to November 2011 for the board of irrigation Users,
benefiting a total of 276 farmers. A farm tractor (including accessories like plow disc
and harrow) was donated through an agreement with the Users’ board. The equipment
has been used a total 782 machine / hours so far.
Construction of facilities for the Torata irrigation Water Users’ board. The technical
file is now ready and was submitted to board members. With this file, the building
permit can now be obtained and municipal government needs to commit to provide
the construction materials needed for the facility.
Health and Nutrition
Tacna Region
Southern’s “Creating Healthy Communities” program continued in 2011:
- 700 eco-friendly stoves with National Construction Training Service certification
were installed. These eco-kitchens improve household bypreventing respiratory and
gastrointestinal diseases, especially among pregnant women and children under
5. The kitchens were installed in Ancocala, Huanuara, Patapatani and Quilahuani
communities (Candarave).
- Preparation of technical profiles and files for Huanuara, Cairani and Ancocala
communities. A new agreement was signed with the ministry of Women and Social
development (mimdES), the Provincial municipality of Candarave and the district
municipality of Cairan, to operate 19 “Wawa Wasi” day care centers in Candarave
province. Pursuant to this agreement, in 2011, through ACAC, Southern Copper
bought equipment and food services for the day care centers, and met with local
authorities to identify the land plots and premises for building new facilities for the
day cares. Child nutritional assessments, training for mothers, internships for local
promoters and organizing management committees were other concomitant activities.
The total investment in this program is $0.34 million.
The Candarave Nutrition Project aims at reducing chronic malnutrition and anemia
in under 5 by creating of healthy environments and behaviors. The target population
of the project are 416 children under five. The project started in June 2011. in the
first six months a social baseline was established. Practical training sessions were
organized around breastfeeding, nutritional value of food, and personal hygiene. This
project is underway in Candarave, Huanuara, Cairani, Curibaya and Quillahuani. The
program’s $1.26 million funding was provided by ACAC.
Urban Wastewater Treatment Systems Project in the province of Candarave. Forty
two percent of the project has been completed to date. The $0.26 million project is
estimated to directly benefit 4,141 residents of the province Candarave. The project
comprises the building, assembly and commissioning of seven urban wastewater
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 043
treatment plants. At present a plant is operating in Quilahuani and another is nearing
completion in Huanuara. building of the remaining five plants is scheduled for next
year at a total cost of $0.62 million.
A new safe water system will improve living conditions of 334 people in the Aricota
rural community. The reservoir, and the transmission and distribution were completed
in 2011 to supply potable water to Aricota community. The investment to date amounts
to $0.14 million.
Comprehensive Health Campaign in Jorge basadre. Health care assistance was
provided in 2011 was provided to the people of Locumba district, in Jorge basadre
province (Tacna). Two health campaigns took place in Villa Locumba and Sitana
Pampa for a total 661 health care interventions including dentistry, general medicine,
internal medicine, pediatrics, and eye care.
Arequipa Region
Southern’s support increased supply of consultations, referrals and procedures. State
of the art services allowed providing faster and more effective care for low income
patients in Arequipa region. A total $0.15 million were invested in this support
program.
Equipment for and better care in the departments of Orthopedics, Physical medicine
and Rehabilitation at the Regional Honorio delgado Hospital iii – Arequipa. This
project consisted in the donation of 21 different pieces of medical equipment,
including 01 operating table for trauma/orthopedics, 03 ultrasound machines, 03
magnetotherapy kits, 02 electrotherapy kits, 02 shortwave kits, 02 laser therapy kits,
01 pad tank, 01 paraffin kit, 01 home gym and 05 full therapeutic Tens, as well as
training for operating these pieces. Our support helped increase provision of care,
inter-consultations and procedures, and enhanced the quality of service thanks to
advanced technology for quick and effective care to patients with limited economic
resources in Arequipa. The total investment reached $150,000.
044 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
San Luis Potosi - mexico
Capacity building
Tacna Region
diploma in management of Public investment Projects – SNiP, in Jorge basadre –
Tacna. A class taught from September to december 2011, in Locumba and ilabaya
districts, in Jorge basadre province. its purpose was to provide 100 officials and town
councilors the tools and techniques needed to prepare and assess public investment
projects to be submitted to the National Public investment System.
moquegua Region
“building my dream” is a project to provide 140 women from moquegua the
knowledge and expertise they need to start their own businesses. The program is
executed through an agreement with the Regional Government of moquegua, as part
of efforts to create centers to help low income women from mariscal Nieto and ilo
provinces engage in productive activities. The project’s total cost is $0.27 million.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 045
An agreement was signed with the Provincial municipality of ilo to integrate and
coordinate efforts and resources to promote textile business clusters in ilo, moquegua
Region”. The projects is a joint initiative of the Provincial municipality of ilo and
Southern Peru to promote the business coordination and partnerships, strengthen
garment and textiles micro and small businesses, and train and bring to market
potential employers, in order to more competitively meet the needs of ilo garment and
textiles markets. The total project investment is $0.42 million.
in Torata, the Agriculture House opened through an agreement with Torata’s district
municipality and the irrigation Water Users board. This project will sell low-cost farm
inputs (pesticides, fertilizers) and animal’s medicines to provide the board a new
source of income and thus greater financial strength.
An agreement was signed with the irrigation board to study Torata River’s water
balance. The study will be carried out by Universidad Nacional Agraria La molina,
and will determine the quantity and quality of water available from the river, thus
permitting efficient planning and development of water facilities and use.
The third stage of the Project for Efficient management of Water Resources in Torata
concluded. This project is developed jointly with the irrigation Users of Torata in the
moquegua region. The program seeks to optimize the management and use of water
among farmers and strengthen the board’s institutional and administrative operations.
its main deliverables include: Water distribution Plan (PdA by its acronym in Spanish))
for the Torata board; true water flow at delivery points; training of board members;
field trip for board members to Cajamarca (Chonta River Users board - Porcon Farm)
and training and public outreach events through publications and talks about the new
Water Act (Law No. 29338), widely attended by Torata farmers and villagers.
An institutional strengthening and support agreement with the board of irrigation
Users Torata that will run for three years will provide financial support to cover
operating and operating expenses to help meet its objectives.
Rural internet Project in yacango (mariscal Nieto Province), implemented during
2011, for the benefit of 1,200 local residents. The project consisted in providing
training for farmers, students and the public at large on computer skills, development
046 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Packing at the moly plant at the Cuajone Concentrator.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 047
and capacity building for governance to manage and implement resource leverage
projects.
Primary education and other educational and technical training support
Tacna Region
Technical and Job Training Program - in Jorge basadre province. A project
implemented from October 2011 with Santa maria Catholic University and TECSUP
vocational training School as project operators. Course offerings include front loader
operator, iTCs, boiler operator and welder, electricity, amounting and alignment,
modern irrigation and diesel engines mechanics. Classes began in mid-November
and now have now completed the first course module with 367 students enrolled. The
project’s $1.02 budget was funded by ACAC.
Arequipa Region
Through an agreement with TECSUP, a private vocational training organization,
Southern’s grants program benefited young students from islay province.
Funding
Southern Copper promotes better quality of living among its neighboring communities
through ACAC, which manages and invests funds from the mining industry’s
“Solidarity with the People” program on sustainable social development projects. in
2011, Southern set up a Local Fund worth $3 million and a Regional Fund totaling
$11.6 million for the benefit of Tacna, moquegua, Arequipa and Apurimac regions.
048 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
TAbLE Nº 01
Funds Set
ANNUAL DePOSITS (IN MILLIONS)
Period
Regional
Local
Truth Commission
Total Funds deposited
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
TOTAL
14.48
14.96
10.72
7.34
11.64
59.14
3.77
3.90
2.79
1.91
3.03
15.40
Source: Asociacion Civil Ayuda del Cobre (ACAC)
0.60
0.62
0.45
0.31
0.48
2.46
18.86
19.47
13.96
9.56
15.15
77.00
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 049
$2,336.4
MILLION IN NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SCC
CASh COST PER POUND Of COPPER
PRODUCED wAS $0.415 IN 2011
050 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Train hauling mineralized material to Cuajone concentrator, Peru.
$2,336.4
MILLION IN NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SCC
CASh COST PER POUND Of COPPER
PRODUCED wAS $0.415 IN 2011
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 051
RESuLTS OF OPERATiOnS
The Company reported 2011 net income attributable to SCC of $2,336.4 million or
the years ended december 31, 2011,
diluted earnings per share of $2.76, compared with net income attributable to SCC
2010 and 2009.
of 1,554.0 million or diluted earnings per share of $1.83 in 2010, $929.4 million or
diluted earnings per share of $1.09 in 2009.
Operating cash cost: The Company presents its operating costs both including and
excluding the revenues of its byproducts (molybdenum, silver, sulphuric acid, etc.).
Excluded from its calculation of operating cash cost are the cost of purchases of
third parties metal, depreciation, amortization and depletion, exploration, workers
participation provisions and other items of non-recurring nature, and the royalty
charges.
The Company’s operating cash cost, as previously defined, for the three years ended
december 31, is as follows:
Cash cost per pound of copper produced
Cash cost per pound of copper produced, (excluding by-products revenue)
2011
2010
2009
(cents per pound)
41.5
165.7
18.0
152.0
41.1
141.1
As seen on the chart above, our cash cost per pound for 2011 when calculated with
by-products revenue is 41.5 cents per pound compared with 18.0 cents per pound
in 2010. The increase in 23.5 cents per pound in production cost mainly power and
fuel cost due to increased market prices, and less credit in our by-products, by less
volume and molybdenum prices.
Net Sales: Net sales in 2011 were $6,818.7 million, compared with $5,149.5 million
in 2010, an increase of $1,669.2 million. The increase was principally a result of
052 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
higher copper sales volume from buenavista, which reaches its full capacity by the
second quarter 2011 and a higher average copper, silver, zinc prices.
The increase in metal prices was a result of improvements in the global economy and,
balance between supply and demand.
Net sales in 2011 include a gain of $13.5 million on copper hedges, compared with
loss of $41.9 million in 2010.
Prices: Sales prices for the Company’s metals are established, mainly by reference to
the prices quoted in the London metal Exchange (LmE) and The New york Commodity
Exchange (COmEX), or published in the Platt’s metals Week, for dealer oxide mean
prices for molybdenum.
Price / Volume data
2011
2010
2009
Average metal prices
Copper (per pound – LmE)
Copper (per pound – COmEX)
molybdenum (per pound)
zinc (per pound – LmE)
Silver (per ounce – COmEX)
$
$
$
$
$
4.00
4.01
15.33
0.99
35.18
$
$
$
$
$
3.42
3.43
15.60
0.98
20.18
$
$
$
$
$
2.34
2.35
10.91
0.75
14.67
SALES VOLUmE (in thousands)
2011
2010
2009
Copper (pounds)
molybdenum (pounds) (1)
zinc (pounds)
Silver (ounces)
1,320,467
1,106,067
1,117,774
41,081
199,879
14,161
45,213
207,151
15,450
40,984
228,927
18,169
(1) The Company’s molybdenum production is sold in the form of concentrates. Volume represents pounds of molybdenum contained in concentrates.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 053
$13.9
MILLION IN ENVIRONMENTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES IN 2011
ThE COMPANy hAS INSTITUTED EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AT ITS MINING fACILITIES
054 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Water canal from Tacalaya to Camilaca Hidraulic infrastructure support in Candarave, Peru.
$13.9
MILLION IN ENVIRONMENTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES IN 2011
ThE COMPANy hAS INSTITUTED EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AT ITS MINING fACILITIES
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 055
EnviROnMEnTAL MATTERS
The Company has instituted extensive environmental conservation programs at
its mining facilities in Peru and mexico. The Company’s environmental programs
include, among other features, water recovery systems to conserve water and
minimize impact on nearby streams, reforestation programs to stabilize the surface
of the tailings dams and the implementation of scrubbing technology in the mines to
reduce dust emissions.
Environmental capital expenditures in years 2011, 2010 and 2009, were as follows
(in millions):
2011
2010
2009
Peruvian operations
mexican operations
$
2.4
$
11.5
$
6.4
10.2
2.4
25.1
$
13.9
$
16.6
$
27.5
Operaciones en mexico
The Company’s operations are subject to applicable mexican federal, state and
municipal environmental laws, to mexican official standards, and to regulations for
the protection of the environment, including regulations relating to water supply,
water quality, air quality, noise levels and hazardous and solid waste.
The principal legislation applicable to the Company’s mexican operations is the
Federal General Law of Ecological balance and Environmental Protection (the
“General Law”),, which is enforced by the Federal bureau of Environmental
Protection (“PROFEPA”). PROFEPA monitors compliance with environmental
legislation and enforces mexican environmental laws, regulations and official
standards. PROFEPA may initiate administrative proceedings against companies
that violate environmental laws, which in the most extreme cases may result in
the temporary or permanent closing of non-complying facilities, the revocation
056 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
of operating licenses and/or other sanctions or fines. Also, according to the
federal criminal code, PROFEPA must inform corresponding authorities regarding
environmental non-compliance.
mexican environmental regulations have become increasingly stringent in recent
years, and this trend is likely to continue and has been influenced by the environmental
treaty entered into by mexico, the United States and Canada in connection with NAFTA
in 1999.
in relation the aforementioned, on January 28, 2011, Article 180 of the General Law
was amended. This amendment gives an individual or entity the ability to contest
administrative acts, including environmental authorizations, permits or concessions
granted, without the need to demonstrate the actual existence of harm to the
environment, natural resources, flora, fauna or human health, because it will be
sufficient to argue that the harm may be caused.
As a result of the amendment, more legal actions supported or sponsored by non-
governmental groups, interested in halting projects, and not necessarily in protecting
the rights of affected communities may be filed against companies operating in all
industrial sectors, including the mining sector.
in addition, on August 30, 2011, amendments to the Civil Federal Procedures Code
(“CFPC”) were published in the Official Gazette and will be effective on February 29,
2012. These amendments establish three categories of collective actions, by means
of which 30 or more people claiming injury derived from environmental, consumer
protection, financial services and economic competition issues will be considered to
be sufficient in order to have a legitimate interest to seek through a civil procedure
restitution or economic compensation or suspension of the activities from which the
alleged injury derived. The amendments to the CFPC may result in more litigation,
with plaintiffs seeking remedies, including suspension of the activities alleged to
cause harm.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 057
San Luis Potosi - mexico
058 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
On december 5, 2011, the Senate Chamber approved the Environmental Liability
Federal Law which establishes general guidelines in order to determine which
environmental actions will be considered to cause environmental harm that will give
rise to administrative responsibilities (remediation or compensations) and criminal
responsibilities. Also economic fines could be established. This initiative has been
turned to lower chamber for discussion and voting. The law will be in force once
approved by the lower chamber and signed by the President.
in march 2010, the Company announced to the mexican federal environmental
authorities the closure of the copper smelter plant at San Luis Potosi. The Company
has initiated a program for plant demolition and soil remediation with a budget of
$35.7 million, of which the Company has spent $22.5 million as of december 31,
2011. The Company expects concluded this program in 2013. The Company expects
to remediate the site and promote an urban development to generate a net gain in the
disposal of the property.
Although the Company believes that all of its facilities are in material compliance
with applicable environmental, mining and other laws and regulations, the Company
cannot assure that the above mentioned or future laws and regulations would not have
a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, properties, results of operations,
financial condition or prospects. However, the Company’s management does not
believe that continued compliance with the federal environmental law or mexican state
environmental laws will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business,
properties, results of operations, financial condition or prospects or will result in
material capital expenditures.
eNVIRONMeNTAL INITIATIVeS
San Luis Potosi Copper Plant Closes
in march, the Company reported to the Secretariat of Environment and Natural
Resources the copper plant would be definitively decommissioned. The plant had
been operating since 1892. At an investment of $35.7 million minera mexico began
with the first phase of the project which involved the closing of facilities, quantification
and characterization of waste, licensing of confinements, integrated management of
hazardous waste, and decommissioning, cleanup and containment of hazardous
waste generated. The second stage of the project will involve soil remediation actions
to adapt the site to residential, commercial and recreational land use patterns under
San Luis Potosi - mexico
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 059
the provisions of San Luis Potosi’s Urban development and Ecological Plans of San
Luis Potosi. Neighboring communities will benefit from the mine’s closure thanks to
development of residential areas, gardens, schools and shopping centers.
mexico joins the mexican Stock Exchange’s Sustainable iPC index
in december, the mexican Stock Exchange included Grupo mexico among the 23
highest rated issuers for their environmental performance, social responsibility and
corporate governance in its iPC Sustainable index. The six main environmental
parameters used in the index are efficient use of water, water discharges, air emissions,
responsible management of hazardous and nonhazardous waste.
belonging to the mexican Stock Exchange’s first ever sustainability index is a source
of pride because it shows the importance of and the company’s commitment to social
responsibility, environmental sustainability and corporate governance.
Cleaner industry Certification
during 2011, minera mexico received 13 Cleaner industry Certificates for its operating
plants and three Environmental Quality Certificates awarded to its automotive and
heavy machinery service shops awarded by the Federal Environmental Protection
Office (PROFEPA), thus becoming the mining company with the highest number of
awards in this field.
Tree farming
Trees grown in our Ponds, Guaymas, San Luis Potosi and Nacozari nurseries reached
a total 1,845,000 trees, keeping the lead in this activity within the national mining
activity.
060 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Renewable energy projects: Power generation using solar cells and solar water
heating.
With an investment of $304,000 a solar cell power project took shape in the
explorations corporate offices in Hermosillo, Sonora. This system has 10 solar
cells towers, eight of which are 60 m2 and another two are 40 m2. The system
follows the sun in its journey across the sky and generates over 210,000 kWh of
energy annually. This project is the largest and most advanced of its kind not only
in the state of Sonora, but in mexico and will result in 118 ton lower atmospheric
emissions of CO2.
mexico’s plentiful sunlight and conditions in Sonora State make Cananea an ideal
location to use non-polluting, environmentally-friendly low cost solar water heating.
The total heating surface of the mine’s six thermal projects reaches 270 m2 with storage
capacity totaling 27,305 liters of hot water. The system cost $110,000 and generates
over 464,000 kWh of energy annually. by replacing gas heaters, it will reduce CO2
emissions by 127 tons.
PET Recycling
For the third year in a row, minera mexico was recognized as the company that
recycles more PET bottles in Sonora. The proceeds from recycling are turned over to
the Red Cross in Esqueda, Sonora.
Environmental Cooperation Program
mexicana de Cobre was recognized by the ministry of Environmental Affairs and
Natural Resources and the Employers’ Confederation of mexico, for participating
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 061
in the of the iii National Waste Recycling Contest in the category Special Waste
management category to which it submitted the “Life Saving Recycling “ project.
Peruvian operations
The Company’s operations are subject to applicable Peruvian environmental laws and
regulations. The Peruvian government, through the Environmental ministry conducts
annual audits of the Company’s Peruvian mining and metallurgical operations.
Through these environmental audits, matters related to environmental commitments,
compliance with legal requirements, atmospheric emissions, and effluent monitoring
are reviewed. The Company believes that it is in material compliance with applicable
Peruvian environmental laws and regulations.
Peruvian law requires that companies in the mining industry provide for future closure
and remediation. in accordance with the requirements of this law the Company’s
closure plans were approved by miNEm. As part of the closure plans, the Company
is providing guarantees to ensure that sufficient funds will be available for the asset
retirement obligation.
062 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 063
Toquepala mine, Peru.
SCC
INDIRECTLy, MAkES PART Of GRUPO MEXICO
SCC, INDIRECTLy, MAkES PART Of “GRUPO MEXICO S.A.B. DE C.V.”
whO OwNS AMERICAS MINING CORPORATION (“AMC”)
4,159 employees in Peruvian branch.
064 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
SCC
INDIRECTLy, MAkES PART Of GRUPO MEXICO
SCC, INDIRECTLy, MAkES PART Of “GRUPO MEXICO S.A.B. DE C.V.”
whO OwNS AMERICAS MINING CORPORATION (“AMC”)
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 065
GEnERAL inFORMATiOn
information related to its constitution and their inscription in the Public
Registry:
See: “brief historical review from the constitution of the Company” on page 74.
brief description: Southern Copper Corporation is one of the largest integrated
copper producers in the world. We produce copper, molybdenum, zinc, lead, coal
and silver. All of our mining, smelting and refining facilities are located in Peru and
in mexico and we conduct exploration activities in those countries and Chile. Our
operations make us one of the largest mining companies in Peru and also in mexico.
We are one of the largest copper mining companies in the world with significant
copper reserves. We were incorporated in delaware in 1952 and have conducted
copper mining operations since 1960. Since 1996, our common stock has been
listed on both the New york and the Lima Stock Exchanges.
Our Peruvian copper operations involve mining, milling and flotation of copper
ore to produce copper concentrates and molybdenum concentrates, the smelting
of copper concentrates to produce anode copper, and the refining of anode copper
to produce copper cathodes. As part of this production process, we also produce
significant amounts of molybdenum concentrate and refined silver. We also produce
refined copper using SX/EW technology. We operate the Toquepala and Cuajone
mines high in the Andes mountains, approximately 860 kilometers southeast of the
city of Lima, Peru. We also operate a smelter and refinery west of the Toquepala and
Cuajone mines in the coastal city of ilo, Peru.
Our mexican operations are conducted through our subsidiary, minera mexico
S.A. de C.V. (“minera mexico”), which we acquired on April 1, 2005. minera
mexico engages principally in the mining and processing of copper, molybdenum,
zinc, silver, gold and lead. minera mexico operates through subsidiaries that are
grouped into three separate units. mexicana de Cobre S.A. de C.V. (together with
its subsidiaries, the “mexcobre unit”) operates La Caridad, an open-pit copper
mine, a copper ore concentrator, a SX/EW plant, a smelter, refinery and a rod
plant.
066 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Operadora de minas e instalaciones mineras S.A de C.V. ( the “buenavista unit”)
operates buenavista, formerly named Cananea, an open-pit copper mine, which
is located at the site of one of the world’s largest copper ore deposits, a copper
concentrator and two SXEW plants. The buenavista mine was operated until
december 11, 2010 by mexicana de Cananea S.A. de C.V. and by buenavista del
Cobre S.A. de C.V. from that date until July 2011. industrial minera mexico, S.A. de
C.V. (together with its subsidiaries, the “immSA unit”) operates five underground
mines that produce zinc, lead, copper, silver and gold, a coal mine and a zinc
refinery. Effective February 1, 2012, minerales metalicos del Norte S.A was merged
with industrial minera mexico S.A. de C.V. (immSA). immSA absorbed minerales
metalicos del Norte S.A.
We utilize modern/state of the art mining and processing methods, including global
positioning systems and computerized mining operations. Our operations have a high
level of vertical integration that allows us to manage the entire production process, from the
mining of the ore to the production of refined copper and other products and most related
transport and logistics functions, using our own facilities, employees and equipment.
La Caridad concentrator at Hermosillo, mexico.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 067
Economic Group
SCC, indirectly, makes part of “Grupo mexico S.A.b. de C.V.” who owns 100% of Americas mining Corporation (“AmC”).
Name of the company
SEVERAL ACTiViTiES
domicilio
inscripcion
%
in the RPmV
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Grupo mexico, S.A.b. de C. V.
Grupo mexico Servicios, S.A. de C.V.
RAiLROAd ACTiViTiES
infraestructura y Transportes mexico, S.A. de C. V.
miNiNG ACTiViTiES
Americas mining Corporation (“AmC”)
Southern Copper Corporation (SCC)
Americas Sales Company, inc.
minera mexico, S. A. de C. V.
industrial minera mexico, S.A. de C. V.
buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C. V.
mexicana de Cobre, S.A. de C. V.
Southern Peru Limited
Southern Peru Copper Corporation, Agencia en Chile
Southern Peru Copper Corporation, Sucursal del Peru
Compañia minera Los Tolmos, S.A.
mexico
mexico
mexico
EE.UU.
EE.UU.
EE.UU.
mexico
mexico
mexico
mexico
EE.UU.
Chile
Peru
Peru
100
100
100
80.9
100
99.95
99.99
99.99
99.98
100
100
99.291
97.3
√
Nota:
1. incluye 82.69% del patrimonio y 16.60% de las Acciones de inversion.
Corporate Capital and Common Stock
The authorized number of shares
issues an Paid Capital: Common Shares
Nominal Value of Common Shares
shares
2,000,000,000
884,596,086
$
0.01
Total number and percent of shares
Shares
Americas mining Corporation
Common Shares
Total
680,000,000
160,980,000
840,980,000
interest
80.9%
19.1%
100.0%
068 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Authorizations Obtained for the Development of the Business
Operations in mexico
La Caridad mine
“La Caridad Concentrator” started operations in 1979, with a milling capacity of
90,000 tons per day.
“molybdenum Plant” started operations in 1982, with a production capacity of 2,000
tons of copper-molybdenum concentrate per day.
- “La Caridad SX-EW” started operation in 1995 and has a daily production capacity
of 60 tons of copper cathodes. Approximately 602.3 million tons of leach ore with an
average grade of approximately 0.208% copper have been extracted from the La Caridad
open-pit mine and deposited in leaching dumps from may 1995 to december 31, 2010.
La Caridad metallurgic Complex
La Caridad Smelter started operations in July, 1986, with a production capacity of 493
tons of anode per day and was expanded to 822 tons in march, 1997.
“La Caridad Refinery” started operations in July, 1997, with a production capacity of
493 tons of copper cathode per day and was expanded to 822 tons in January, 1998.
“La Caridad Precious metals Plant” started operations in may, 1999, with a production
capacity of 43,836 ounces of silver per day, 247 ounces of gold per day and 342
kilograms of selenium per day.
“La Caridad Wire Rod Plant” started operating in April, 1998, with a production capacity
of 300 tons of wire rod per day and was expanded to 411 tons in march 1999.
buenavista mine
“buenavista Concentrator” started operating in September, 1986, with a capacity of
62,500 tons per day, the capacity was expanded to 70,000 tons in 1988 and to 76,700
tons in 1998.
“buenavista SX/EW i Plant” started operating in 1980, with a capacity of 30 tons per
day.
“buenavista SX/EW ii Plant” started operating in 1989, with a capacity of 60 tons per
day and was expanded to 120 tons in 2001.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 069
Underground mines
1.- The Santa barbara Unit has milling capacity of 5,800 tons of ore per day.
2.- The Santa Eulalia Unit has a milling capacity of 1,450 tons of ore per day.
3.- The San martin Unit has a milling capacity of 4,400 tons of ore per day.
4.- The Charcas Unit has a milling capacity of 4,100 tons of ore per day.
5.- The Taxco Unit has a milling capacity of 2,000 tons per day.
6.- Coquizadora Coal Plant, in Coahuila Unit, has a capacity of 105,000 tons of coke
per year.
7.- La Refineria de zinc cuenta con una capacidad de produccion de 288 t/d de zinc
refinado.
Peruvian operations
Toquepala
1. Toquepala Concentrator. directorial Resolution No.455-91-Em/dGm/dCm dated July
5, 1991 approved the operation of the Toquepala Concentrator. The resolution granted
240 hectares of surface land and authorized a throughput of 39,000 Tons/day.
based on Report No. 413-97-Em/dGm/dPdm dated July 7, 1997 the “director
General de mineria” authorized the expansion of the Toquepala Concentrator to a
43,000 Tons/day throughput.
based on Report N° 547-2002-Em/dGm/dPdm, dated November 6, 2002,
the “director General de mineria” authorized the expansion of the Toquepala
Concentrator to a capacity of 60,000 Tm/day.
2. Toquepala Leaching Plant (SX/EW). directorial Resolution No. 166-96-Em/dGm
dated may 7, 1996, approved the operation of the Toquepala SX/EW plant. The
070 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
resolution granted 60 hectares of surface land and authorized a throughput of
11,850 tons/day.
based on Report No. 663-98-Em-dGm/dPdm dated November 10, 1998 the
“director General de mineria” authorized construction and expansion of Toquepala
SX/EW plant to 18,737 tons/day throughput. directoral Resolution dated may 19,
2003, based on Report No. 291-2003-Em-dGm/dPdm, authorized operation of
the SX/EW plant to a throughput of 18,737 tons/day.
Cuajone
1. botiflaca Concentra tor in Cuajone: directorial Resolution No. 150-81-Em/dCm
dated August 14, 1981 approved the operation of botiflaca Concentrator. The
resolution granted 56 hectares of surface land.
based on Report No. 266-99-Em/dGm/dPdm dated July 20, 1999 the “director
General de mineria” authorized the expansion of botiflaca Concentrator to 87,000
tons/day throughput.
Resolution N° 379-2010-mEm-dGm/V dated October 7, 2010, based on Report
N°312-2010-mEm-dGm-dTm/Pb, authorized construction and expansion of
botiflaca Concentrator to 90,000 tons/day throughput.
2. Cuajone Leaching Plant (LX/EW). directorial Resolution No.155-96-Em/dGm
dated may 6, 1996 approved the operation of the Cuajone Leaching plant. The
resolution granted 400 hectares of surface land and authorized a throughput of
2,100 tons/day. based on Report No. 988-2009-mEm-dGm/V, dated december
16, 2009, Cuajone SX plant operation was approved and authorized the of the,
with a capacity of 3100 tons/day.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 071
ilo
1.ilo Smelter: Authorized (definitely) by directorial Resolution No. 078-69-Em/dGm
dated August 21, 1969 approved the operation of the ilo Smelter. The resolution
authorized a production of 400 Short tons/day of blister copper.
based on Report No.204-2000-Em-dGm-dPdm dated June 20, 2000 the “director
General de mineria” authorized the expansion of the ilo Smelter to a 3,100 tons/day
throughput of copper concentrates.
On February 4, 2010, the Company began the process to obtain authorization from
the miNEm to operate a capacity of 3,770 tons/day, which is included as an ancillary
facility to Acid Plant No. 2, with a capacity of 2,880 tons /day or 1,051, 200 tons/
year.
2. ilo Refinery: Authorized by Report No. 056-94-Em/dGm/dRdm dated may 27,
1994 the “director General de mineria” authorized the operation of the ilo Copper
Refinery at 533 tons/day throughput of blister copper.
based on Report No. 506-97-Em/dGm/dPdm dated September 2, 1998 the
“director General de mineria” authorized the expansion of ilo Copper Refinery to
a capacity of 658 tons/day throughput.
based on Report N° 080-2002-Em-dGm/dPdm, dated march 14, 2002, the
“director General de mineria” authorized the expansion of the ilo Copper Refinery
to a capacity of 800 tons/day.
Resolution N°520-2010-mEm-dGm/V dated december 30, 2010, based on
Report N° N°414-2010-mEm-dGm-dTm/Pb, authorized changes in ilo copper
refinery without expanded its capacity throughput.
072 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
3. Sulfuric Acid Plant: Authorized by directorial Resolution No. 024-96-Em/dGm
dated January 19, 1996, approved the operation of the sulfuric acid plant, installed
at the smelter, at a production rate of 150,000 tons/year.
based on Report No. 313-98-Em/dGm/dPdm dated may 21, 1998 the “director
General de mineria”, authorized the expansion of the ilo Sulfuric Acid Plant to a
capacity of 300,000 tons/year production.
4. “Coquina Wash Plant and Sea shell Concentrates” authorized to operate by
directorial Resolution Nº 110-93-Em/dGm of August 3, 1993. The plant
processes 95 TC/h of raw material (coquina) recovered from nearby mines.
Seashell is produced separating sand and other materials from the coquina using
sea water washing screens.
Resolution N°038-2011-mEm-dGm-dTm/Pb dated February 2, 2011, based on
Report N°035-2011-mEm-dGm-dTm/Pb, authorized modification in the concession
of “Coquina Wash Plant and Sea shell Concentrates” to a classified dry sea shell
plant without expanded its capacity throughput, which represents 2,068 tons/day.
drilling area at buenavista del Cobre mine, mexico.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 073
Description of Operations and Development regarding the issuing entity
Purpose
The purpose of Southern Copper Corporation (SCC) is to engage in activities allowed
by the laws of the State of delaware. its main activity is to extract, mill, concentrate,
smelt, treat, prepare for market, manufacture, sell, exchange and, in general, to
produce and negotiate for sales of copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, lead, zinc, iron
and any other class of minerals and materials or other materials, effects and goods of
any nature or description; as well as to explore, exploit, sample, examine, investigate,
recognize, locate, appraise, buy, sell, exchange, etc., mining concessions and mining
deposits. SCC belongs to the CiiU 1320 group.
The term of duration of the Company is indefinite.
brief historical review from the constitution of the company:
The Company was organized on december 12, 1952, according to the Laws of the
State of delaware of the United States of America, under the original denomination
of Southern Peru Copper Corporation (“SPCC”), which was renamed on October 11,
2005, to Southern Copper Corporation (SCC).
in 1954, SCC established a branch in Peru to carry out mining activities in this
country. The branch was established under public instrument certified by Public
Notary from Lima, dr. Ricardo Fernandini Arana, on November 6, 1954.
The branch is registered in the Electronic Record Nº 03025091 of the Juridical People
of the Registry Office of Lima and Callao.
Actions following company incorporation:
Capital increase:
by Public deed dated may 31, 1995, signed before notary public of Lima, dr. Carlos A.
074 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Sotomayor bernos, the branch capital increase was formalized. it was made through
money contribution by the Company in favor of its Peru branch and by the owners
of labor shares, pursuant to Legislative decree No. 677. The capital contribution
made by the Company was aimed at increasing the capital allotted to the branch by
the headquarters and registered in Peru. The capital contribution made by the Labor
Shares (today investment Shares) owners was assigned to the Labor Shares account
of the branch for issuing new Labor Shares.
Part of the money contribution made by the Company in favor of its branch and by
the Labor Shares owners was applied as a capital premium to the Resident account
as Additional Capital.
Exchange of investment Shares (Labor Shares) for Common Shares:
dated September 7, 1995, “Southern Peru Copper Holding Company” was also
incorporated pursuant to the Laws of the State of delaware, aiming at acting as a
holding company that owns all Southern Peru Copper Corporation shares, and at
performing an exchange of the shares that were then called “Labor Shares” (today
investment Shares) issued by the branch in Peru, delivering the owners of labor
shares a certain number of common shares issued by SPCC in the United States.
As a consequence of this share exchange, former owners of Labor Shares acquired
17.31% of SPCC’s Capital, and this company acquired ownership of 80.77% of Labor
Shares (today investment Shares).
On december 31, 1995, Southern Peru Copper Corporation changed its corporate name
to “Southern Peru Limited”, and “Southern Peru Copper Holding Company” changed its
corporate name to Southern Peru Copper Corporation.
As a consequence of this corporate name change, the mining activities of the Company in
Peru started being performed under the name of Southern Peru Limited, Peru branch (SPL).
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 075
Lime plant of Agua Prieta at La Caridad, Hermosillo,
mexico.
076 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
On december 31, 1998, the merger between Southern Peru Copper Corporation and
Southern Peru Limited was agreed. The first company absorbed the second one and
assumed all its assets and liabilities, including the branch in Peru. This merger did
not imply any change to the share percentage in the corporate capital or in the Net
Worth Share Account (investment shares), which were kept the unchanged.
As a consequence of the merger, the mining activities of the corporation in Peru were
again carried out under the name of Southern Peru Copper Corporation, Peru branch,
or the abbreviated name of “Southern Peru” and/or the acronym SPCC.
Change of Economic Group:
in November 1999, Grupo mexico S.A.b. de C. V., a firm incorporated pursuant to
the Laws of the Republic of mexico, acquired in the United Stated 100% of ASARCO
incorporated, the main shareholder of Southern Peru Copper Corporation at that time.
in this way, SPCC became a subsidiary of Grupo mexico, who keeps its shareholding
through Americas mining Company (AmC).
Acquisition of minera mexico, S.A. de C.V. (“mm”) and other corporate changes:
SCC shareholders, in a shareholder extraordinary meeting dated march 28, 2005,
approved issuance of Common Shares and required actions related to the acquisition
of mm, a firm incorporated pursuant to the Laws of the Republic of mexico. This
transaction was approved by more than 90% of the stocks and circulating capital of
SCC. To acquire mm, SCC issued 67,207,640 shares in exchange for mm shares.
Once the shares related to the acquisition were issued, Americas mining Corporation
increased its share in SCC from 54.2% to approximately 75.1%.
Americas mining Corporation increased its Participation in SCC
in 2008 and 2009 Grupo mexico, through its wholly owned subsidiary AmC,
purchased 11.8 million and 4.9 million shares of the Company’s common Stock,
respectively.
SCC 500 million Share Repurchase Program
in 2008, the Company´s board of directors authorized a $500 million share repurchase
program. On July 28, 2011, the board of directors approved an increase of the SCC
share repurchase program from $500 million to $1.0 billion. Pursuant to this program,
the Company purchased common stock as shown in the table below. These shares
are available for general corporate purposes. The Company may purchase additional
shares of its common stock from time to time, based on market conditions and other
factors. This repurchase program has no expiration date and may be modified or
discontinued at any time. Pursuant to this program, we purchased 42.5 million shares
of our common stock at a cost of $730.7 million.
As a result of the repurchase of shares of SCC’s common stock and purchases by
AmC of shares of SCC’s common stock, Grupo mexico’s direct and indirect ownership
increased to 80.9% at december 31, 2011.
Americas mining Corporation (“AmC”) business Combination Proposal
On July 22, 2010, we received a non-binding proposal from our parent company,
AmC, offering to effect an all-stock business combination of Southern Copper
Corporation and AmC, the parent company of Asarco, LLC (“Asarco”). On October
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 077
Starting cells at the ilo copper refinery, Peru.
078 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
28, 2011, AmC announced, in light of discussions with a special committee of our
independent directors, that it had withdrawn the proposed transaction to combine
AmC and Southern Copper Corporation.
Change in the Certificate of incorporation:
On march 28, 2005, following board of directors recommendations, SCC shareholders
approved in an extraordinary meeting the amendments to the Articles of incorporation
deed, changing the composition and obligations of some board committees.
Special independent director:
The changes to the Articles of incorporation deed require the board to include a certain
number of special independent directors. A special independent director is a person
who (i) complies with the independence standards of the New york Stock Exchange (or
any other stock exchange or association in which Common Shares are listed) and (ii) is
appointed by the Special Appointment Committee of the board. A special independent
director may only be removed from the board upon a justified cause.
The number of special independent directors in that directory at any time shall equal
(a) the total number of directors in the board multiplied by (b) the percentage of
Common Shares all the shareholders (that are not Grupo mexico and its affiliates) have,
rounding up to the following integer number. Notwithstanding the abovementioned,
the total number of people appointed as special independent directors (not belonging
to Grupo mexico) cannot be less than two or more than six.
Special Nominating Committee
The Special Nominating Committee functions as a special committee to nominate
special independent directors to the board. Pursuant to our Amended and Restated
Certificate of incorporation, as amended, a special independent director is any director
who (i) satisfies the independence requirements of the New york Stock Exchange or
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 079
SXEW plant in Toquepala, Tacna, Peru.
080 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
NySE (or any other exchange or association on which the Common Stock is listed)
and (ii) is nominated by the Special Nominating Committee. The Special Nominating
Committee has the right to nominate a number of special independent directors based
on the percentage of our Common Stock owned by all holders of our Common Stock,
other than Grupo mexico and its affiliates.
The Special Nominating Committee consists of two directors (2) of whom are Luis
miguel Palomino and Carlos Ruiz Sacristan (each an “initial member” and, together
with their successors, “Special designees”) and such other director, currently Xavier
Garcia de Quevedo Topete, as may be appointed by the board of directors or the “board
designee”. The board designee will be selected annually by the board of directors.
The Special designees will be selected annually by the members of the board who are
special independent directors or initial members. Only special independent directors
can fill vacancies on the Special Nominating Committee. Any member of the Special
Nominating Committee may be removed at any time by the board of directors for
cause. The unanimous vote of all members of the nominating committee will be
necessary for the adoption of any resolution or the taking of any action.
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that
the number of special independent directors on the board of directors at any given
time shall be equal to (a) the total number of directors on the board of directors
multiplied by (b) the percentage of Common Stock owned by all of the stockholders
(other than Grupo mexico and its affiliates), rounded up to the next whole number.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the total number of persons nominated as special
independent directors cannot be less than two or greater than six.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the power of the Special Nominating Committee to
nominate special independent directors is subject to the rights of the stockholders to
make nominations in accordance with our by-laws.
The provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of incorporation, as amended,
relating to special independent directors may only be amended by the affirmative vote
of a majority of the holders of shares of Common Stock (calculated without giving
effect to any super majority voting rights) other than Grupo mexico and its affiliates.
Transactions with affiliates:
Amendments to the deed also prohibit the Company to commit in important
transactions with the affiliates, except if the transaction has been revised by a
committee of at least three board members, each one of which will comply with
the New york Stock Exchange (or any other stock exchange or association in which
Sulphuric acid shipment from ilo smelter plant, Peru.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 081
Common Shares are listed) independence regulations. An important transaction of
the affiliate is defined as an important transaction, commercial negotiation or financial
share in any transaction, any series of transactions between Grupo mexico or one of
its affiliates (different from the Company or any of the subsidiaries), on the one hand,
and to the Company or one of the subsidiaries, on the other hand, comprising a total
consideration of more than $10.0 million.
Change of corporate name and other corporate changes:
On September 20, 2005, by written consent instead of an extraordinary shareholder
meeting, the majority shareholder approved the corporate name change of Southern
Peru Copper Corporation to Southern Copper Corporation or SCC. The change was
adopted because the new corporate name reflects more precisely the Company’s
operations reach outside the Republic of Peru after its acquisition of minera mexico
and the latter’s presence in the Republic of Chile through the acquisition of some
mining exploration concessions.
Additionally, on the same date, the majority shareholder approved an amendment
of our Articles of incorporation deed to remove others’ provisions in our deed
related with our Class A Common Shares that were formerly in circulation, which
were converted to Common Shares on may 19, 2005, and to change the number
of Corporate directors from fifteen to a number that will be regularly established
following agreement of most of board members stipulating the number of directors
will not be less than six or more than fifteen.
The deed amendment was submitted to the Secretary of State of the State of delaware,
and came into effect on October 11, 2005.
082 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Peru branch Name:
Generally, the change of headquarters corporate name should comprise the
corresponding name of the ancillary organizations linked to it, as is the case of the Peru
branch through which the Corporation develops its mining activities in Peru.
After consulting with Peruvian lawyers, the board of directors, taking into consideration
the net worth and assets importance of the branch, the need to continue acknowledging
the position of the Peruvian branch with its local and international copper clients, the
need to preserve its proceeds and its position in good name in the copper market, and
the need to prevent any possible client loss, as well as to guarantee the revenue flow
from sales, its financial and economic revenues and its solvency, the board of directors
agreed to maintain the original corporate name to the Peru branch, that is, Southern
Peru Copper Corporation, Peru branch, or the abbreviated name “Southern Peru” and/
or the acronym SPCC.
Changes in the Certificate of Articles of incorporation and bylaws
dated January 26, 2006, the board approved amendment to Southern Copper
Corporation’s bylaws (i) aiming at removing the provisions related to Class A
Common Shares among other changes.(ii) adding a new provision for advance
notice to shareholders seeking to nominate directors or to propose other business
at annual or special meetings of the Common Stockholders (as applicable) (iii)
substitute Grupo mexico for ASARCO incorporated in the “Change in Control”
definition in the Corporation’s by-laws (iv) and eliminate the 80% supermajority
vote requirement for certain corporate actions. The modification of the modified
Certificate of incorporation increased the capital stock from 167,207,640 shares
to 320,000,000 shares. These modifications were submitted for approval of the
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 083
shareholders at the shareholders annual meeting held on April 27, 2006 which was
adjourned and reconvened for may 4, 2006, and later on adjourned and reconvened
for may 11, 2006.
At the annual meeting, on April 27, 2006, the proposal to amend the by-laws to
eliminate certain extraneous provisions relating to the retired series of Class A
Common Stock had an affirmative vote of 79.85% of the required votes. because the
required vote for the approval of this proposal was 80% and because there were still
votes that needed to be tabulated, the annual meeting for this proposal was adjourned
until may 4, 2006. On may 4, 2006, at the adjourned and reconvened meeting the
stockholders approved the proposal with an affirmative vote of 80.61% of the required
votes.
On April 27, 2006, stockholders approved (i) the amendment to the by-laws to introduce
a new provision for advance notice to shareholders seeking to nominate directors or
to propose other business at annual or special meetings of the Common Stockholders
(as applicable); (ii) the amendment to the by-laws to substitute Grupo mexico for
ASARCO incorporated in the “Change in Control” definition in the Corporation’s by-
laws; (iii) the amendments to the Amended and Restated Certificate of incorporation to
increase the number of shares of Common Stock, which the Corporation is authorized
to issue from 167,207,640 shares to 320,000,000 shares; and (iv) the selection of the
independent accountants.
On April 27, 2006, the proposal to amend the by-laws to eliminate the 80%
supermajority vote requirement for certain corporate actions had received preliminary
votes, representing an affirmative vote of 78.35% of the required votes. because the
required vote for the approval of this proposal was 80% and because there were still
084 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
votes that needed to be tabulated, the annual meeting for this proposal was adjourned
first until may 4, 2006, and subsequently until may 11, 2006. On may 11, 2006, at
the adjourned and reconvened meeting stockholders did not approve the proposal
having received an affirmative vote of 79.61% of the required votes.
SCC is indirectly, part of Grupo mexico S.A.b. de C.V. which owns 100% of Americas
mining Corporation (AmC) shareholding, owner of 80.9% of SCC shares.
information about plans and investment policies:
See Expansion and modernization Program on page Nº 010.
Relationship between the issuer and the Government
On November 20, 1996, SCC and the Peruvian Government (ministry of Energy
and mines) signed a contract that will remain effective until the year 2010 and
guarantees the tax stability and the availability of exchange to foreign currency
of the branch’s earnings related to the operation of the SX/EW plant at Toquepala
and the Solvent Extraction (SX) operation in Cuajone. Also, on April 18th, 1995,
SCC and the Peruvian Government (CONiTE) signed a contract that will remain
effective during ten years and guarantees the availability of foreign currencies, free
remittance of dividends to the exterior, among other guarantees related to the acid
plant of the ilo Smelter.
SCC obtains revenues for tax credits in Peru for the general sales tax (iGV) paid in
connection with the acquisition of capital goods and other goods and services used
in its operations, counting these credits as a paid expense in advance. by virtue of
this refund, SCC is entitled to credit the amount of the iGV against its Peruvian tax
obligations or to receive a refund.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 085
Special mining tax
in September 2011, the Peruvian government enacted a new tax for the mining
industry. This tax is based on operating income and its rate ranges from 2% to
8.4%. it begins at 2% for the first 10% of operating income margin and for each
additional 5% of operating income margin is increased by an additional rate of 0.4%
until 85% of operating income margin is reached. in the last quarter of 2011 we made
provisions of $16.4 million for this tax. This provision is included as “income tax” in
the consolidated statement of earnings.
mining Royalty
Since 2004, Peruvian operations are subject to a royalty from 1% to 3% charge, based
on sales, and calculated on the value of the concentrates produced at our Toquepala
and Cuajone mines. We made provisions of $52.5million, $65.5 million and $43.7
million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, for this charge.
in September 2011, the Peruvian Congress approved an amendment to the mining
royalty charge. The new mining royalty charge is based on operating income margins
with graduated rates ranging from 1% to 12%, with a minimum royalty charge
assessed at 1% of net sales. if the operating income margin is 10% or less, the royalty
charge is 1% and for each 5% increment in the operating income margin, the royalty
charge rate increases by 0.75%, up to a maximum of 12%. in the last quarter of 2011,
we made provisions of $19.3 million for this charge.
Mining Safety:
Operaciones en mexico
Foro Corporativo de Celulas de Seguridad
From 29 to 30 November minera mexico’s Safety Cell Corporate Forum took place in
the mexico City offices. Participants - all unionized employees - came from all business
units.
086 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
The participants presented proposals to reduce the likelihood of occupational
hazardous events.
The jury included mSc. Gabriel Ramirez, coordinator for mining engineering, at the
Autonomous University of mexico’s department of Engineering; engineer Florencio
Olivera Polo, head for occupational safety at the mexican Social Security institute;
Juan Carlos Sanchez Vargas, head for innovation and promotion at the ministry of
Labor’s inspections department; and Carlos Perez Castillo, instructor and auditor for
OHSAS 18001 with bSi mexico.
Acknowledgments
- mining Chamber of mexico. “Xi Competition of Underground mine Rescue Crews
and First Aid”.
during the Xi National mine Rescue Crews Competition of 2011, the Santa barbara
unit won the second place in the test “benchman biopack biomarine”.
-”Chairman’s Award”
Awarded by the Chairman of minera mexico to the business unit with the lowest
annual accident rate, in 2011, the award went for the second time to the Nueva Rosita
plant that recorded no accidents and achieved a zero loss time ratio.
Safety, Health and Hygiene Week
From 5 to 9 September all plants and business units organized the first “Safety,
Hygiene and Health Week”, an event developed for the first time, simultaneously in all
operating units, the Hermosillo regional offices and at corporate HQ in mexico City.
Event activities included lectures, talks, workshops, safety and health fairs, sports
tournaments, exhibition of works in the company’s Community Centers, orientation
sessions on preventive health and safety activities for our employees’ families and the
community at large.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 087
The Safety, Hygiene and Health Week has been considered a tool for improving and
preserving safe and healthy environments as a factor in the prevention of occupational
hazards through the participation of all personnel of the company.
The success of this event reflects the interest and commitment of each and every
one of our colleagues and partners to acquire new tools and enhance knowledge on
prevention aspects and safe work, with the sole purpose of safeguarding the lives and
physical development and better do their jobs.
Occupational Health and Safety information System
An iT system was designed to streamline processes and avoid information mistakes.
Users need only download data only once to view all general occupational health and
safety statistics.
The program records all safety related statistics (accidents, preventive and corrective
actions, data analysis, etc.) and health data (disabilities, regular checkups, data
analysis). it was designed to merge in a single iT tool all data captured by the various
business units’ safety departments.
So far the system has been evaluated in Charcas, Santa barbara, Nueva Rosita plant
and the zinc Refinery and their staff have been trained to use it. This program has been
scheduled to be rolled out formally in the first quarter 2012.
Peruvian Operations
The Safety and Health results in 2011, for the open pit mining operations in Toquepala
and Cuajone mines, metallurgical operations in ilo Unit, which includes a smelter
and refinery plants, were as follows: Frequency index 2.6, Severity index 1461.5 and
088 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Accidentability rate 3.9; these indicators correspond to 25 lost time accidents and 2
fatal accident were registered in Toquepala Unit.
The ilo Unit received in 2011 and recognized in Smelter and Refinery category in the
XiV National mining Safety, organized by The Safety mining institute, The ministry
of mining, OSiNERGmiN, mining institute, mining Society and Engineering Society.
Generic Description of Main Assets
mexican Operations
buenavista del Cobre
1. The buenavista production unit has 46 mining concession titles with a total area of
13,282 hectares.
2. The buenavista concentrator plant, with a milling capacity of 76,700 tons per
day, consists of, 2 primary crushers, 4 secondary crushers, 10 tertiary crushers,
10 primary mills, one expert control system, 5 mills for regrinding, 103 primary
flotation cells, 10 column cells, 70 exhaustion flotation cells, 7 thickeners, 3 ceramic
filters. in addition, the facility has 48 wells and a pumping station for fresh water
supply, a tailings dam and reclaims water pumping station.
3. major buenavista mine equipment includes 50 trucks for ore hauling with individual
capacities ranging from 240 to 360 tons.
4. For ore loading there are 8 shovels with individual capacities ranging from 30 to
70 cubic yards.
5. The mine auxiliary equipment including has 7 drillers, 5 front loaders, 5 motor
graders and 24 tractors.
6. in the Solvents Extraction and Electro winning (SXEW) i and ii Plants of buenavista,
N°1 crushing system has a capacity of 32,000 tons per day, and includes an apron
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 089
Wire plant at La Caridad, Hermosillo, mexico.
090 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
feeder, a conveyor belt feeder, 8-Converyor belt systems and a distributing bar.
7. Crushing system Nº 2 has a capacity of 48,000 tons per day and includes one
crusher, a conveyor belt feeder, four conveyor belts and a distributing bar. There are
3 irrigation systems for the dumps and eleven dams for the pregnant leach solutions
(PLS). Plant i has four solvent extraction tanks with a nominal capacity of 16,000
liters per minute of PLS, and 52 electrowinning cells. Plant i has a daily production
capacity of 30 tons of copper cathodes with 99.999% purity. Plant ii has 5 trains
of solvent extraction with a nominal capacity of 55,000 liters per minute of PLS and
216 cells distributed in two bays. Plant ii has a daily production capacity of 120 tons
of copper cathodes with 99.99% purity.
We intend to increase the buenavista unit’s production of copper cathodes with a new
SXEW plant (SXEW iii), with an annual capacity of 120,000 tons. The plant would
produce copper cathodes of ASTm grade 1 or LmE grade A. For more information,
please see “Capital investment Programs” under item 7 of our Form 10-K for further
information.
LA CARidAd
1. La Caridad Production Unit has 51 mining concession titles with a total area of
86,529.26 hectares.
2.La Caridad concentrator plant has a milling capacity of 90,000 tons per day and
consists of two primary crushers, six secondary crushers, twelve tertiary crushers,
twelve ball mills, a master milling control system, 100 primary flotation cells, four
re-grinding mills, 96 cleaning flotation cells, twelve thickeners and six drum filters.
major mine equipment includes twenty-four trucks for ore hauling with capacity of
240 tons and three with capacity 360 tons, six shovels with a capacity of 43 cubic
yard. Loading and auxiliary equipment include six drillers, five front loaders, three
motorgraders and eighteen tractors.
Approximately 637.4 million tons of leaching ore with an average grade of
approximately 0.235% copper have been extracted from the La Caridad open-pit
mine and deposited in leaching dumps from may 1995 to december 31, 2011. All
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 091
copper ore with a grade lower than the mill cut-off grade 0.30%, but higher than
0.15% copper, is delivered to the leaching dumps. in 1995, we completed the
construction of a SXEW facility at La Caridad that has allowed processing of this ore
and certain leach ore reserves that were not mined and has resulted in a reduction
in our copper production costs. The SXEW facility has an annual capacity of 21,900
tons of copper cathodes.
3. The La Caridad SX-EW plant has nine irrigation systems for the dumps and two
PLS dams, a container of heads that permits the combination of the solutions of both
dams and feeds the SX/EW plant with a more homogenous concentration. The plant
has three trains of solvent extraction with a nominal capacity of 2,070 cubic meters
per hour and 94 electrowinning cells distributed in one single electrolytic bay. The
plant has a daily production capacity of 62 tons of copper cathodes with 99.999%
purity.
LA CARidAd mETALLURGiC FACiLiTiES
Copper concentrates from buenavista, Santa barbara, Charcas and La Caridad are
transported by rail and truck, respectively, to the La Caridad smelter where they are
processed and cast into copper anodes of 99.2% purity. Sulfur dioxide off-gases
collected from the flash furnace, the El Teniente converter and conventional converters
are processed into sulfuric acid, at two sulfuric acid plants. Approximately 2% to 3%
of this acid is used by our SXEW plants and the balance is sold to third parties.
Almost all of the anodes produced in the smelter are sent to the La Caridad copper
refinery. The actual installed capacity of the smelter is 1,000,000 tons per year, a
capacity that is sufficient to treat all the concentrates of the La Caridad and buenavista
and starting in 2010, the concentrates fron the immSA mines, as we closed the San
Luis Potosi smelter. The smelter includes a flash type concentrates drier, a steam
drier, a flash furnace, one El Teniente modified converter furnace, two electric slag-
cleaning furnaces, three Pierce-Smith converters, three rafinnate furnaces and two
casting wheels. The anode production capacity is 300,000 tons per year.
Refinery
La Caridad includes an electrolytic copper refinery that uses permanent cathode
technology. The installed capacity of the refinery is 300,000 tons per year. The
refinery consists of an anode plant with a preparation area, an electrolytic plant with
092 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
an electrolytic cell house with 1,115 cells and 32 liberator cells, two cathode stripping
machines, an anode washing machine, a slime treatment plant and a number of
ancillary installations. The refinery is producing grade A copper cathode of 99.99%
purity. Anodic slimes are recovered from the refining process and sent to the slimes
treatment plant where additional copper is extracted. The slimes are then filtered,
packed and shipped to the La Caridad precious metals refinery to produce silver and
gold.
The operations of the precious metal refinery are divided into two stages: (i) the
antimony is eliminated from the slime, and (ii) the slime is dried in a steam dryer.
After this the dried slime is smelted and a gold and silver alloy is obtained, which is
known as dore. The precious metal refinery plant has a hydrometallurgical stage and
a pyrometallurgical stage, besides a steam dryer, dore casting system, Kaldo furnace,
20 electrolytic cells in the silver refinery, one induction furnace for fine silver, one
silver ingot casting system, two reactors for obtaining fine gold. The process ends
with the refining of the gold and silver alloy.
Copper Rod Plant
A rod plant at the La Caridad complex was completed in 1998 and reached its full
annual operating capacity of 150,000 tons in 1999. The plant is producing eight
millimeter copper rods with a purity of 99.99%. The rod plant includes a vertical
furnace, one retention furnace, one molding machine, one laminating machine, one
coiling machine and one coil compacter.
Other facilities include a lime plant with a capacity of 132,000 tons per year; two
sulfuric acid plants, one with a capacity of 2,625 tons per day and the second with a
capacity of 2,135 tons per day; three oxygen plants, each with a production capacity
of 275 tons per day; and two power turbo generators, one of them uses residual heat
from the flash furnace, the first with a 11.5 megawatt capacity and the second with a
25 megawatt capacity.
Powder Treatment Plant and Effluences
it was built to process powders produced in copper smelter and other metal mining
operations. With a capacity of 3,100 tons per year, to produce 720 tons of copper
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 093
byproducts and 11,000 tons of lead concentrate. This plant meets the objective no to
produce hazardous waste from La Caridad metallurgical complex.
unDERGROunD MinES (iMMSA)
UNidAd mEXiCANA immSA
Our immSA Unit (underground mining poly-metallic division) operates five
underground mining complexes situated in central and northern mexico and produces
zinc, lead, copper, silver, gold and has a coal mine. These complexes include industrial
processing facilities for zinc, lead, copper and silver. All of immSA’s mining facilities
employ exploitation systems and conventional equipment. We believe that all the
plants and equipment are in satisfactory operating condition. immSA’s principal
mining facilities include Charcas, Santa barbara, San martin, Santa Eulalia and Taxco.
Charcas
The Charcas mining complex is located 111 kilometers north of the city of San Luis
Potosi in the State of San Luis Potosi, mexico. Charcas is connected to the state
capital by a paved highway of 130 kilometers. 14 kilometers from the southeast
of the Charcas complex is the “Los Charcos” railroad station which connects with
the mexico-Laredo railway. Also, a paved road connects Charcas to the city of
matehuala via a federal highway and begins at the northeast of the Charcas townsite.
The complex includes three underground mines (San bartolo, Rey-Reina and La
Aurora) and one flotation plant that produces zinc, lead and copper concentrates, with
significant amounts of silver. The Charcas mining district was discovered in 1573
and operations in the 20th century began in 1911. The Charcas mine is characterized
by low operating costs and good quality ores and is situated near the zinc refinery.
The Charcas mine is now mexico’s largest producer of zinc.
The Charcas complex’s equipment includes eighteen jumbo drilling tools, nineteen
scoop trams for mucking and loading, ten trucks and three locomotives for internal ore
haulage and four hoists. in addition, the mill has one primary crusher, one secondary
crusher and two tertiary crushers, four mills and three flotation circuits.
Santa barbara
The Santa barbara mining complex is located approximately 26 kilometers southwest
of the city of Hidalgo del Parral in southern Chihuahua, mexico. The area can
094 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
be reached via paved road from Hidalgo del Parral, a city on a federal highway.
Chihuahua, the state capital is located 250 kilometers north of the Santa barbara
complex. Additionally, El Paso on the Texas border is located 600 kilometers north
of Santa barbara. Santa barbara includes three main underground mines (San diego,
Segovedad and Tecolotes) and a flotation plant and produces lead, copper and zinc
concentrates, with significant amounts of silver. Gold-bearing veins were discovered
in the Santa barbara district as early as 1536. mining activities in the 20th century
began in 1913.
mining operations in Santa barbara are more diverse and complex than our other
mining operations, with streaks of approximately 21 miles long. Each of the three
underground mines has several wells and crushers. due to variable characteristics the
deposits are mined using four methods: by contraction, open drilling deep holes, cut
and fill and horizontal bench. To produce concentrates, ore crushed is processed in
the flotation plant, with a capacity of 5,700 tons per day. Lead concentrate is refined by
third parties in mexico. Copper concentrates were treated in San Luis Potosi smelter,
and zinc concentrates are refined in San Luis Potosi or exported. Copper concentrates
are treated in La Caridad smelter.
The major mine equipment at Santa barbara includes twenty-one jumbo drilling
tools, one Simba drilling tools, forty-three scoop trams, fourteen trucks and eleven
locomotives for internal ore haulage, six trucks for external haulage and six hoists.
For treating the ore, there are six primary jaw crushers, one secondary crusher and
two tertiary crushers, three mills and three flotation circuits. The concentrator plant
has a milling capacity of 5,800 tons of ore per day.
San martin
San martin has been on strike since July 2007. For more information please see note
14 “Commitments and Contingencies” of our Form 10-K.
The San martin mining complex is located in the municipality of Sombrerete in the
western part of the state of zacatecas, mexico, approximately 101 kilometers southeast
of the city of durango and nine kilometers east of the durango State boundary.
Access to the property is via a federal highway between the cities of durango and
zacatecas. A paved six kilometer road connects the mine and town of San martin
with the highway. The city of Sombrerete is about 16 kilometers east of the property.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 095
The complex includes an underground mine and a flotation plant and produces lead,
copper and zinc concentrates, with significant amounts of silver. The mining district
in which the San martin mine is located was discovered in 1555. mining operations
in the 20th century began in 1949. San martin lies in the mesa Central between the
Sierra madre Occidental and the Sierra madre Oriental.
San martin mine used cut and fills horizontal method. Ore broken is hauled to
underground crusher. Then, ore fed the flotation plant to produce concentrates, with a
capacity of 4,400 tons of ore per day. Lead concentrate is treated by third party refinery
in mexico. Copper concentrate is treated in La Caridad smelter, and zinc concentrate
is treated in San Luis Potosi refinery or is sold to third parties.
The major mine equipment at San martin includes eight jumbo drilling tools, thirteen
scoop trams, nine trucks and three hoists. For treating the ore, there are two primary
jaw crushers, two secondary crushers and one tertiary crusher, two mills and three
flotation circuits. The concentrator plant has a mill capacity of 4,400 tons of ore per
day.
Santa Eulalia
The mining district of Santa Eulalia is located in the central part of the state of
Chihuahua, mexico, approximately 26 kilometers east of the city of Chihuahua. This
district covers approximately 48 square kilometers and is divided into three fields:
east field, central field and west field. The west field and the east field, in which the
principal mines of the complex are found, are separated by six kilometers. The buena
Tierra mine is located in the west field and the San Antonio mine is located in the
east field. The mining district was discovered in 1590, although exploitation did not
formally begin until 1870.
Santa Eulalia district is connected to Chihuahua City by paved road (Highway No.
45), ten kilometers from this, turnoff paved to Aquiles Serdan and Francisco Portillo
(also known as Santo domingo), where our offices are located and buena Tierra mine.
Access to buena Tierra and San Antonio mines is via 11 kilometers unpaved.
The Santa Eulalia mine suspended its operations from October 2000 to december
2004, and during that time was completed rehabilitation work on San Antonio well
and pipes were installed to expand its pumping capacity to 10,500 gallons per minute.
096 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
in January 2005, Santa Eulalia resumed its operations. in may 2010, the Santa Eulalia
mine suspended its operations due to breakage dam. in 2011, rehabilitation works
were interrupted by a second flood that required extending pumping labor. At 31
december 2011, rehabilitation works continue, concluded pumping system, and drain
plug is under construction, we expect to restore mine production in may 2012. Total
expenditure was $ 21.5 million as of december 31th, 2011.
The flotation plant which produces concentrates of lead and zinc, with a capacity of
1,500 tons of ore per day. Lead concentrate is treated by third parties refinery, and zinc
concentrate is treated in our San Luis Potosi refinery.
major mine equipment at the Santa Eulalia mine include five Jumbo drilling tools,
eleven scoop trams for mucking and loading, two trucks and two hoists. For treating
the ore, there are two primary crushers, one secondary crusher and one tertiary
crusher, two mill crushers, one mill and two flotation circuits. The concentrator plant
has a milling capacity of 1,450 tons of ore per day.
Taxco
Taxco has been on strike since July 2007. Please see Note 15 “Commitments and
contingencies” to our consolidated financial. The Taxco mining complex is located on
the outskirts of the city of Taxco in the northern part of the State of Guerrero, mexico,
approximately 71 kilometers from the city of Cuernavaca, morelos, where access through
the highway to the complex is possible. The complex includes several underground
mines (San Antonio, Guerrero and Remedios) and a flotation plant and produces lead
and zinc concentrates, with some amounts of gold and silver. The mining district in
which the Taxco mines are located was discovered in 1519. mining activities in the 20th
century commenced in 1918. The Taxco district lies in the northern part of the balsas-
mexcala basin adjacent to the Paleozoic Taxco-zitacuaro massif.
We employ shrinkage, cut-and-fill and the room and pillar mining methods at the
Taxco mines. The flotation plant has a capacity of 2,000 tons of ore per day. The lead
concentrate is treated at a third party refinery in mexico. The zinc concentrate is either
treated at the San Luis Potosi zinc refinery or exported.
The major mine equipment at the Taxco complex include four Jumbo drilling tools, ten
scoop trams for mucking and loading, five trucks and three locomotives for internal
ore haulage and three hoists. For treating the ore, there are two primary crushers, one
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 097
secondary crusher and two tertiary crushers, three mills and two flotation circuits.
The concentrator plant has a milling capacity of 2,000 tons of ore per day.
The Nueva Rosita coal and coke complex
The Nueva Rosita coal and coke complex, which began operations in 1924, is located
in the state of Coahuila, mexico on the outskirts of the city of Nueva Rosita near
the Texas border. it includes a) an underground coal mine, which has been closed
as a result of an accident in 2006; b) an open-pit mine with a yearly capacity of
approximately 350,000 tons of coal; c) a coal washing plant completed in 1998 with
a capacity of 900,000 tons per year that produces clean coal of a higher quality;
and d) a re-engineered and modernized 21 coke oven facility capable of producing
100,000 tons of coke (metallurgical, nut and fine) per year of which 95,000 tons are
metallurgical coke. There is also a by-product plant to clean the coke gas oven in
which tar, ammonium sulfate and light crude oil are recovered. There are also boilers
to produce 80,000 steam pounds that are used in the by-products plant. The re-
engineering and modernization of 21 ovens was completed in April, 2006 and it is
presently operating with no problems to report.
The coke oven installation supplied the San Luis Potosi copper smelter with low-cost
coke, resulting in significant cost savings to the smelter. The production is now sold
to industria Penoles and other mexican consumers in northern mexico. We expect to
sell 72,117 tons of metallurgical coke in 2012.
zinc Refinery
The San Luis Potosi electrolytic zinc refinery was built in 1982. it was designed to
produce 105,000 tons of refined zinc per year by treating up to 200,000 tons of zinc
concentrate from our own mines, principally Charcas, which is located 113 kilometers
from the refinery. The refinery produces special high grade zinc (99.995% zinc), high
grade zinc (over 99.9% zinc) and zinc-based alloys with aluminum, lead, copper or
magnesium in varying quantities and sizes depending on market demand. Refined
silver and gold production is obtained from tolling services provided by Peñoles.
The electrolytic zinc refinery’s major equipment includes a roaster with 85 square
meters of roasting area, a steam recovery boiler and an acid plant. There is a calcine
processing area with five leaching stages: neutral, hot acid, intermediate acid, acid,
098 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
purified fourth and jarosite, as well as two stages for solution purifying. Additionally,
the equipment includes a cell house with two electrowinning circuits to finally obtain
metallic zinc; an alloy and molding area with two induction furnaces and four molding
systems, two of them with chains to produce 25 kilogram ingots; and two casting
wheels to manufacture one ton Jumbo pieces.
Copper Smelter
Our San Luis copper smelter was closed in 2010, and copper concentrates previously
smelted at this plant are now sent to La Caridad for smelting. We believe operating
efficiencies will increase with La Caridad replacing the copper smelting capacity of San
Luis Potosi.
We have initiated a program for plant demolition and soil remediation with a budget of
$35.7 million, of which we have spent $35.7 million at december 31, 2011. We expect
to complete this program in 2013 and generate a net gain in the disposal of this property.
Peruvian Operations
Toquepala
1. The Toquepala Production Unit comprises three Economic Administrative Units:
TOQUEPALA 1 comprising 24 mining concession over a 6,218 hectares surface.
SimARRONA including 14 mining concession over 5,516 hectares, and TOTORAL
with 21 mining concession distributed over 5,384 hectares. in addition, the
Toquepala Production Unit owns 41 mining concession over 13,859 hectares
outside the above Economic Administrative Units.
Overall the Toquepala Production Unit holds 100 mining concession over 30,977
hectares.
2. major mine drilling equipment includes,
a) drilling equipment:
Two P&H 100XP,
One P&H 120A
Two bucyrus 49R-iii,
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 099
Three bucyrus 49HR,
One pre-split drill down-the-Hole (dTH) Titon 600,
One Cubex 1120.
b) Loading equipment
One P&H 4100+ shovel with a capacity of 60 cubic yard,
Two P&H 4100A shovels with a capacity of 56 cubic yard,
One bUCyRUS 495bi shovel with a capacity of 56 cubic yard,
Three bUCyRUS 495 HR shovels with a capacity of 73 cubic yard,
One P&H 2100 shovel with a capacity of 73 cubic yard,
One LE TOURNEAU L-1400 front-end loader, with a capacity of 28 cubic yard.
One CAT 994F front-end loader, with a capacity of 23 cubic yard.
c) Auxiliary equipment,
One CAT d11-R crawler,
One CAT d10-N crawler,
Two CAT d10-R crawlers,
One CAT d10-T crawler,
One CAT 973 crawler,
One front loader CAT 996C.
Three KOmATSU d375A crawler,
One CAT 16-H motor grader,
Two CAT 24-H motor grader,
One CAT 24m motor grader,
Three KOmATSU Wd600 wheel tractors,
Two CAT 844C wheel tractors,
Four CAT 834H wheel tractors,
One pre-split drill PC-300,
Four irrigation tanks with a capacity of 20,000 gallons.
One irrigation tanks with a capacity of 20,000 gallons.
3. Haulage equipment:
28 KOmATSU 930E1, E3 y E4 trucks, each with a capacity of 290 tons,
100 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Five CAT 793C trucks each one with a capacity of 218 tons,
13 CAT 793d trucks each one with a capacity of 218 tons,
One CAT 797F trucks with a capacity of 363 tons,
18 KOmATSU 830E trucks each one with a capacity of 218 tons.
4. “Toquepala Concentrator” beneficiation Plant, with milling capacity of 60,000 tons
per day, consists of 1 primary crusher, 3 secondary crushers, 6 tertiary crushers,
8 rod mills, 24 ball mills, 8 ball mills for re-crushing, 1 ball mill 9500 HP, 1
distribute control system (dCS), 1 optimizing control system (SGS), as well as,
6 WEmCO-130 flotation cells, 4 OK-100 flotation cells, 3 OK-50 flotation cells,
5 WEmCO-66 flotation cells, 15 column cells and 24 WEmCO 42.5 cubic meter
flotation cells, 72 AGiTAiR 1.13 cubic meter cells, 2 LAROX filter presses (PF60 &
PF96), 5 middling thickeners, 2 tailings thickeners, 3 high-rate tailings, 1 “Tripper
Car”, 1 track tractor CAT d10-R and, 1 recycled water pipe line. A molybdenum
plant with a capacity of 2,000 tons per day, equipment is as follow: 35 WENCO
iNERTGAS mOd. 66-d, EiNCO (100 ft3), 42 AGiTAiR 1.13 cubic meter cells, 4
Column Cells and 1 LAROX filter press (PF6). This plant uses nitrogen gas.
Cuajone
1. The Cuajone Production Unit comprises two of Economic Administrative Units:
CUAJONE 1, with 22 mining concessions over 7,810 hectares; and COCOTEA with
17 mining concessions over 7,691 hectares. Additionally, the Cuajone Production
Unit has 3 mining concessions over 779 hectares, outside the above two Economic
Administrative Units.
Overall, the Cuajone Production Unit comprises of 42 mining concessions over a
16,280 hectare surface.
2. major mine drilling equipment includes,
a) drilling equipment:
Two P&H 120A,
One P&H 100XP,
One bUCyRUS bE49Riii,
One bUCyRUS bE49HR y
One pre-split drill Rock – L8 diesel,
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 101
b) Loading equipment
Two P&H 4100A shovels with a capacity of 56 cubic yard,
One bUCyRUS 495 bii shovel with a capacity of 56 cubic yard,
One bUCyRUS 495HR shovel with a capacity of 73 cubic yard,
One P&H 2800XPb shovel with a capacity of 42 cubic yard,
One LE TOURNEAU 1800 front-end loader, with a capacity of 33 cubic yard.
c) Auxiliary equipment:
Three CAT 966 de 3.8 m3 front-end loader,
Two CAT 988 de 6.1 m3 front-end loader,
Four CAT- 824 wheel tractor,
Two CAT 834 wheel tractor,
One KOmATSU Wd 600 wheel tractor,
Ten CAT d-10 crawler,
Two CAT-16H y m motor grader,
Three CAT- 24-H y m motor grader,
3. Haulage equipment:
15 KOmATSU 930E1 trucks each one with a capacity of 290 tons,
19 KOmATSU 830E trucks each one with a capacity of 218 tons.
Nine CAT 793C and d trucks each one with a capacity of 231 tons,
One CAT 797F trucks with a capacity of 360 tons.
4. “Cuajone Concentrator” beneficiation plant with a milling capacity of 87,000 tons
per day, consisting of 1 primary crusher, 3 secondary crushers, 7 tertiary crushers,
11 primary ball mills, 4 ball mills for re-crushing, 1 vertical mill, as well as, 4
flotation cells OK-160, 30 OK-100 flotation cells, 8 column cells, 14 WEmCO 300
(ft3) flotation cells, 6 WEmCO-d OLiVER of 661,350 (ft3),
5 WENCO 60 metric cubic flotation cells, 1 LAROX filter press PF96,1FLSmidth filter
press m1500Fbm, 24 middling thickeners, 3 tailings conventional thickeners, 1
high-rate tailings, 1 VOLVO Fm12 truck, recycled water pipe line. The molybdenum
plant with a capacity of 2,358 tons / day, its equipment are as follow: 8 cells with
a capacity of 400 dENVER ft3, 6 cells OK-8 with a capacity of 25 HP, 16 cells
102 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
GALiGHER with a capacity of 800 ft3, 16 cells dENVER with a capacity of 100 ft3,
24 cells dENVER SP18 with a capacity of 25 ft3 and other equipment. This plant
uses nitrogen gas.
OTHERS
One SX/EW plant in Toquepala and one SX plant in Cuajone.
The SX Cuajone Plant has 1 primary jaw crusher and 1 secondary cone crusher
HP-500 with a capacity of 390 ton/H, to process Cuajone’s oxides. in addition, 1
agglomeration mill, two front end loader, 1 rock breaker, one truck with a capacity of
225 tons and three trucks each one with a capacity of 113 ton for hauling to the leach
dumps. Copper in solution produced at Cuajone is sent to Toquepala through an
eight-inch pipe laid alongside the Cuajone - Toquepala railroad track.
in Leaching Toquepala with two crawlers, one d9 tractor and one d10 tractor for
stripping works, ore rip and irrigation systems distributed in the south dump and
for the northwest dump. There are three pumping systems with 12 pumps. The
percolation solution, or PLS, of the dumps are stored in 5 collection dams from which
the solutions (PLS) are pumped by nine pumped stations with total 23 pumps.
The feed pond receives the percolation solutions from the different collection ponds
through the PLS pumping systems. The PLS contained in the feed pond is transferred
by gravity to the solvent extraction plant (ES) where the PLS is concentrated and
purified obtaining electrolyte. The plant has 3 solvent extraction trains each
with a nominal capacity of 1,068 cubic meters per hour of PLS and 162 cells of
electrodeposits distributed in two electrolytic ships, one with 122 cells and the other
one with 40 cells. Electrodeposition (dE) has 4 rectifiers with a capacity of 23,000
amps each that provides the necessary current to convert the electrolyte ionic copper
to metallic copper. Additionally, one semi-automatic WENmEC delaminator with a
capacity of 300 plates per hour, and one P & H crane with a capacity of 11 tons.
iLO METALLuRGicAL cOMPLEX
1. The ilo metallurgical complex has one Administrative & Economic Unit named iLO
with 16 non-metallic mining concessions over 2,519 hectares. Additionally, the
metallurgical complex has 6 mining concessions over 2,012 hectares outside the
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 103
above Economic Administrative Units. Overall the ilo Production Unit holds 22
mining concession over 4,531 hectares.
2. ilo Smelter with a smelting capacity of 1,200,000 tons of concentrate, one isasmelt
furnace, 2 Rotary Holding Furnaces, 4 Pierce Smith converters, 2 slag cleaning
furnaces, 2 anode furnaces and 2 casting wheels. The iSASmELT Furnace is a
bath concentrate smelting technology, uses a oxygen enriched air lance that is
immersed in a volume of molten slag, The matte-slag mixture is tapped to the
Rotary Holding Furnaces to separate the matte and slag. The matte with 62 % of
copper is processed in the Peirce Smith converters to produce a 99.3% blister
copper. The blister copper is treated in the refining furnaces to produce the anodic
copper which is cast like plates of 440 kg in the twin casting wheel. The final
product of the Smelter is the 99.7% copper anode. The ilo Smelter also has a
sea water pumping plant which is used in the furnace jacket water cooling system.
Additionally the Smelter has two desalination plants (110 m3 / h), a potable water
plant and a sewage treatment plant.
San Luis Potosi, electrolytic refinery, mexico.
104 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
3. Two sulfuric acid plants with a total capacity of 1’144,000 tons /year. The smelter
gases are processed in acid plants to produce 98.5% sulfuric acid. The smelter
sulfur capture is above 92%. The acid production process has the following steps:
cooling and cleaning of the smelter gas, drying, gas conversion of the SO2 and
SO3 absorption. Sulfuric acid is stored in tanks for final transportation to different
consumers.
4. Two cryogenic oxygen plants with a total capacity of 1,317 tons of 95% oxygen per
day. The oxygen is used in the iSASmELT furnace, separation furnaces and Peirce
Smith converters.
5. ilo refinery and Electrolitic Plant with a capacity of 280,000 ton per year (cathodes),
926 commercial cells and 52 starting cells, and 16 primary liberator cells, 24
secondary liberator cells, y three rectifiers: 40 KA, 30 KA y 25 KA, with the two first,
the refinery reach a nominal capacity of 280,000 metric tons of copper refinery per
year. he precious metals plant with 1 Wenmec selenium reactor, 1 Copella furnace,
26 silver electrorefining cells and 1 hydrometallurgical system for gold recovery.
Additionally the Refinery has one desalination plant (1000 m3 / d), with a capacity
of 1,000 m3 per day of distillated water
6. Coquina plant with a production capacity of 200,000 tons per year of seashells.
Coquina mining Plant extracts seashells to supply the raw material to the Lime
Plant located in ilo smelter. The mining ratio is 25:100, the sea shell product has
a content above 80% of CaCO3.
7. Lime plant with a capacity of 80,000 tons per year. Processes seashells received
from Coquina plant obtaining 80% CaO Lime through the decomposition of the
calcium carbonate. Lime is used in Toquepala and Cuajone concentrators and in
effluents plants associated to acid plant.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 105
OTHERS
industrial railroad to haul concentrates and supplies between Toquepala, Cuajone
and ilo with 15 locomotives, 13 slidedump cars, 91 flat cars, 249 boxcars, 8 closed
boxcars, 11 closed hopper-type cars, 34 open hopper-type cars, 36 various tank
wagons, 49 sulfuric acid tanks, 5 patrol cars, 6 railcars.
Employees
mEXiCAN OPERATiONS
At december 31
Employees
Workers
Total
PERUViAN OPERATiONS
At december 31
Employees
Workers
Total
CHiLEAN OPERATiONS
At december 31
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
1,979
5,996
7,975
1,919
5,257
7,176
1,735
5,851
7,586
1,836
5,973
7,809
2,108
6,404
8,512
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2,031
2,128
4,159
1,999
2,003
4,002
1,941
1,976
3,924
1,912
1,756
3,668
1,895
1,702
3,597
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
Total
10
10
11
10
10
CORPORATE OFFiCE
At december 31
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
Total
1
1
7
7
7
TOTAL EmPLOyEES iN SCC
At december 31
Total mexico
Total Peru
Total Chile
Total Oficina Corporativa
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
7,975
4,159
10
1
7,176
4,002
11
7
7,586
3,924
10
7
7,809
3,668
10
7
11,494
8,527
3,597
10
7
12,141
Total
12,145
11,189
11,522
106 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Principles of Corporate Governance
Flotation cells at the Cuajone concentrator, Peru.
General management Resolutions the National Commission for Corporate and
Securities Supervision (CONASEV, by its acronym in Spanish) Nº 096-2003-EF/94.11
y N° 140-2005-EF/94.11
The information referred to both resolutions will be submitted to the CONASEV of the
Republic of Peru, together with the Annual Report.
Economic relations with other companies due to loans that commit more than 10% of
the stockholder’s equity of the issuing entity.
To date, there are no loans with other companies that compromise more than 10% of
SCC’s property.
Administrative Judicial or Arbitration Processes
Litigation: See Note 15 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Changes of those responsible for the preparation and revision of the financial
information
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 107
La Caridad smelter, Hermosillo, mexico.
108 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
mr. Raul Jacob Ruisanchez acts as director of Comptroller and Finance since
September 2011. Previously, mr. Jose N. Chirinos acts as director of Comptroller and
Finance. mr. marco A. Garcia acts as Finance manager.
information related to the stock entered in the Stock market Public
Common Stock
On November 29, 1995 the Company offered to exchange the recently issued common
shares for all and any labor shares of the Peruvian branch of the Company, at a ratio
of one common share per four S-1 shares and one common share per five S-2 shares.
The exchange expired on december 29, 1995, with 80.8% of the total labor shares
in circulation exchange for 22,959,334 common shares. These common shares are
quoted in New york Stock Exchange and the Lima Stock Exchange and are entitled to
one vote per share.
Along with the exchange of labor shares the holders of common shares of the
Company exchanged their shares for Class A common shares, with the right to five
votes per share.
Los Charcas mine, San Luis Potosi, mexico.
in connection with the minera mexico acquisition (April 1, 2005), 134,415,280 new
common shares were issued and class A common shares of the Company were
converted to common shares, and preferential votes were eliminated. On June 9,
2005, Cerro Trading Company, inc., SPC investors L.L.C., Phelps dodge Overseas
Capital Corporation and Climax molybdenum b.V., subsidiaries of two of SCC’s
founding shareholders and affiliates, sold their share in SCC.
On August 30, 2006 the Executive Committee of the board of directors declared a
two-for-one split of the Company’s outstanding common stock. On October 2, 2006
common shareholders of record at the close of business on September 15, 2006,
received one additional share of common stock for every share owned. The Company’s
common stock began trading at its post-split price on October 3, 2006. The split
increased the number of shares outstanding to 294,460,850 from 147,230,425.
On June 19, 2008 the Executive Committee of the board of directors declared a
three-for-one split of the Company’s outstanding common stock. On July 10, 2008
common shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2008, received
two additional shares of common stock for every share owned. The split increased the
number of shares outstanding to 883,410,150 from 294,470,050.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 109
All share and per share amounts were retroactively adjusted to reflect the stock splits.
during 2008 and 2011, the Company and AmC had bought shares periodically (See
pages 76 and 77).
On december 31, 2010, there were of record 840,980,000 shares of common stock of
the Company, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.
CORPORATE bONdS:
On April 16, 2010, the Company issued $1.5 billion in fixed-rate unsecured notes with
a discount of $10.3 million, which is being amortized over the term of the related debt.
Net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including the financing of
the Company’s capital expenditure program.
The $1.5 billion fixed-rate senior unsecured notes were issued in two tranches, $400
million due in 2020 at an annual interest rate of 5.375% and $1.1 billion due in 2040
at an annual interest rate of 6.75%. The Company has registered these notes under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
interest on the notes will be paid semi-annually in arrears. The notes will constitute
the Company’s general unsecured obligations and the series of notes will rank pari
passu with each other and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all of the
Company’s other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
in connection with the transaction, on April 16, 2010 the Company entered into a base
indenture with Wells Fargo bank, National Association, as trustee, as well as a first
supplemental indenture and a second supplemental indenture which provide for the
issuance, and set forth the terms of, the two tranches of notes described above. The
110 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
indentures contain covenants that limit the Company’s ability to, among other things,
incur certain liens securing indebtedness, engage in certain sale and leaseback
transactions, and enter into certain consolidations, mergers, conveyances, transfers
or leases of all or substantially all the Company’s assets. if the Company experiences
a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the indentures governing the
notes), the Company must offers to repurchase the notes at a purchase price equal
to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. A
Change of Control Trigger Event also includes a rating decline, that is, if the rating
of the notes, by at least one of the rating agencies shall be decreased by one or more
gradations.
The Company may issue additional debt from time to time pursuant to the base
indenture.
in July 2005, SCC issued $200 million 6.375% Notes due 2015 and $600 million
with a discount of $1.1 million, 7.5% Notes due 2035, with a discount of $5.3 million.
The notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The notes are senior
unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company capitalized $8.8 million of costs
associated with this facility and its unamortized balance is included in “Other assets”,
non-current on the consolidated balance sheet. The net proceeds from the issuance
and sale of the notes were principally used to repay outstanding indebtedness of the
Company and the balance was used for general corporate purposes.
in January 2006, SCC completed an exchange offer for $200 million, 6.375% Notes
due 2015 and $660 million, 7.5% Notes due 2035. in the exchange offer, $197.4
million of the 6.375% old notes due 2015 were tendered in exchange for an equivalent
amount of new notes and an aggregate of $590.5 million of the 7.5% old notes
due 2035 were tendered in exchange for an equivalent amount of new notes. The
indentures relating to the notes contain certain covenants, including limitations on
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 111
liens, limitations on sale and leaseback transactions, rights of the holders of the notes
upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event, limitations on subsidiary
indebtedness and limitations on consolidations, mergers, sales or conveyances. All
of these limitations and restrictions are subject to a number of significant exceptions,
and some of these covenants will cease to be applicable before the notes mature if the
notes attain an investment grade rating. At december 31, 2011, SCC is in compliance
with these cov¬enants.
On may 9, 2006, SCC issued $400 million 7.5% Notes due 2035. These Notes are
in addition to $660 million, 7.5% Notes due 2035 which were issued on July 2005.
The notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The net proceeds from
the issuance and sale of the notes were principally used in the Company expansion
program.
The notes issued in July 2005 and the new notes issued in may 2006 are treated as
a single series of notes under the indenture, including for purposes of covenants,
waivers and amendments. SCC has registered these notes under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
in 1999, SCC entered into a $100 million, 15-year loan agreement with mitsui. The
interest rate for this loan is the Japanese LibO rate plus 1.25% (Japanese LibO for
this loan at december 31, 2011 was 0.7705%).
The mitsui credit agreement is collateralized by pledges of receivables on 31,000
tons of copper per year. The mitsui agreement requires SCC to maintain a minimum
stockholders’ equity of $750 million and a ratio of debt to equity. Reduction of
Grupo mexico’s direct or indirect voting interest in SCC to less than a majority would
constitute an event of default under the mitsui agreement. At december 31, 2011,
SCC is in compliance with these covenants.
112 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
in 1998, minera mexico issued $500 million of unsecured bonds, which we referred to
as yankee bonds. These bonds were offered in two series: Series A bonds which were
fully repaid in 2008 with a payment of $150 million, and Series b for $125 million,
with an interest rate of 9.25% and a 2028 maturity date. in 2007, SCC repurchased
$68.6 million of the Series b bonds at a premium of $16.6 million, which is included
in the consolidated statement of earnings on the line “Loss on debt prepayments”.
The bonds contain a covenant requiring minera mexico to maintain a ratio of EbiTdA
to interest expense of not less than 2.5 to 1.0, as such terms are defined by the facility.
At december 31, 2011, minera mexico is in compliance with this covenant.
We expect that we will meet our cash requirements for 2012 and beyond from
internally generated funds, cash on hand and from additional external financing if
required.
Changes in Credit Risk Rating: in connection with the issuance of the $1.5 billion
new notes, on April 1, 2010 moody’s investor service upgraded to baa2 from baa3
the Company’s senior unsecured ratings and the rating on its yankee bonds. Also
on April 5, 2010 Fitch and Standard & Poor’’s (“S&P”) ratings services assigned
ratings of ‘bbb’ and ‘‘bbb-’’, respectively, to the new notes issued. At the same time,
these credit rating agencies confirmed their long-term corporate credit rating on SCC
(‘baa2’, ‘bbb and ‘‘bbb- for moody’s, Fitch and S&P, respectively).
On January 26, 2012 Standard & Poors (S&P) raised its long-term corporate credit
rating on our Company, as of its parent companies, Grupo mexico and Americas
mining Company, to bbb from bbb-. Also, S&P raised its ratings on our senior notes
to ‘bbb’ from ‘bbb-’. S&P noted that these rating increases reflect its assessment
of a satisfactory business risk profile, supported by the low cash cost structure,
geographic diversity, position as one of the world’s largest copper producer, vertical
integration and long-life reserves.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 113
Members of the Board of Directors
at December 31, 2011
German Larrea mota-Velasco
mr. Larrea has been Chairman of the board since december 1999, Chief Executive
director.
Officer from december 1999 to October 2004, and a director of the Company since
November 1999. He has been Chairman of the board of directors, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Grupo mexico, S.A.b. de C.V. (“Grupo mexico”) (holding) since
1994. mr. Larrea has been Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive
Officer of Grupo Ferroviario mexicano, S.A. de C.V. (railroad company) since 1997.
mr. Larrea was previously Executive Vice Chairman of Grupo mexico and has been
member of the board of directors since 1981. He is also Chairman of the board of
directors and Chief Executive Officer of Empresarios industriales de mexico, S.A.
de C.V. (“Eim”) (holding), Compañia Perforadora mexico, S.A. de C.V. (drilling
company), mexico Compañia Constructora, S.A. de C.V. (construction company), and
Fondo inmobiliario (real estate company), since 1992. He founded Grupo impresa,
a printing and publishing company in 1978, remaining as the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer until 1989 when the company was sold. He is also a director of
banco Nacional de mexico, S.A. (Citigroup), which forms part of Grupo Financiero
banamex, S.A. de C.V. since 1992, Consejo mexicano de Hombres de Negocios,
and Grupo Televisa, S.A.b. since 1999. He and mr. Genaro Larrea mota-Velasco are
brothers.
Oscar Gonzalez Rocha
mr. Gonzalez Rocha has been our President since december 1999 and our Chief
director.
Executive Officer since October 21, 2004. He has been a director of the Company
since November 1999. mr. Gonzalez Rocha has been the Chief Executive Officer and a
director of Asarco LLC (integrated US copper producer), an affiliate of the Company,
since August 2010. Previously, he was the Company’s President and General director
and Chief Operating Officer from december 1999 to October 20, 2004. mr. Gonzalez
Rocha initiated his professional career in 1971 with Grupo mexico. mr. Gonzalez
Rocha has been a director of Grupo mexico since 2002. He was General director of
mexicana de Cobre, S.A. de C.V. from 1986 to 1999 and of buenavista del Cobre,
S.A. de C.V. (formerly mexicana de Cananea, S.A. de C.V.) from 1990 to 1999. He was
an alternate director of Grupo mexico from 1998 to April 2002. mr. Gonzalez Rocha
is a civil engineer with a degree from the Autonomous National University of mexico
114 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
(UNAm). mr. Gonzalez Rocha initiated his professional career in 1971 with Grupo
mexico.
Emilio Carrillo Gamboa,
mr. Carrillo Gamboa has been a director of the Company since may 30, 2003 and is
director.
our fourth independent director nominee. mr. Carrillo Gamboa is a prominent lawyer
in mexico and has been the Senior Partner of the law firm bufete Carrillo Gamboa,
S.C., a law firm specializing in corporate, financial, commercial, and public utility
issues, for the last five years. mr. Carrillo Gamboa has extensive business experience
and currently serves on the boards of many prestigious international and mexican
corporations, as well as charitable organizations. Since march 9, 2005, he has been
Chairman of the board of The mexico Fund, inc. (NySE—mxf), a nondiversified
closed-end management investment company. mr. Carrillo Gamboa held various
offices with Telefonos de mexico, S.A. de C.V. (“TELmEX”) from 1960 to 1987, the
most recent being that of President and Chief Executive Officer from June 1975 to June
1987. He later served as mexico’s Ambassador to Canada from July 1987 to February
1989. mr. Carrillo Gamboa served from 2002 through march 2010 on the board and
on the audit committee of Empresas iCA, S.A.b. de C.V. (NySE-ica), an engineering,
procurement and construction company. He is a member of the valuation, contract
review and nominating and corporate governance committees of The mexico Fund,
inc. and a member of its audit committee since 2002. mr. Carrillo Gamboa has a
law degree from the Autonomous National University of mexico (UNAm). He also
attended a continuous legal education program at Georgetown University Law School,
and practiced at the World bank.
Alfredo Casar Perez
mr. Casar Perez has been a director of the Company since October 26, 2006. He has
director.
been a member of the board of directors of Grupo mexico since 1997. He is also a
member of the board of directors of Ferrocarril mexicano, S.A. de C.V., an affiliated
company of Grupo mexico, since 1998 and its Chief Executive Officer since 1999.
From 1992 to 1999, mr. Casar Perez served as General director and member of the
board of directors of Compañia Perforadora mexico, S.A. de C.V. and mexico Compañia
Constructora, S.A. de C.V., two affiliated companies of Grupo mexico. mr. Casar Perez
served as Project director of iSEFi, a subsidiary of banco internacional in 1991 and
Executive Vice President of Grupo Costamex in 1985. mr. Casar Perez also worked
for the Real Estate Firm, Agricultural ministry, and the College of mexico. mr. Casar
Perez holds a degree in Economics from the Autonomous Technological institute of
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 115
Luis Castelazo morales
director.
mexico, iTAm, and one in industrial Engineering from Anahuac University. He also
holds a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Chicago.
mr. Castelazo morales was elected to the Company’s board of directors on September
20, 2010. mr. Luis Castelazo morales has been the General director of Eim since
2008. mr. Castelazo morales was previously Chief Executive Officer of desarrollo
de ingenieria S.A. de C.V. (diSA), a mexican construction company, for more than
ten years. mr. Castelazo morales also participated in different projects in mexico via
joint ventures with Raytheon Engineers and Constructors and also with the mcCarthy
Construction Group. Later he, along with two colleagues, founded AGbC S.C., a
firm dedicated to financial consulting and advising for investments in the mexican
stock market, where he worked for more than 15 years. mr. Castelazo morales holds
the recognition of the Amib (Asociacion mexicana de intermediarios bursatiles) as a
certified “Advisor in investment Strategies” for the mexican stock market. mr. Castelazo
morales holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Universidad iberoamericana in
mexico City and a master’s degree in business Administration from the University of
Texas in Austin, TX.
Enrique Castillo Sanchez mejorada
mr. Castillo Sanchez mejorada was elected to the Company’s board of directors
director.
on July 26, 2010 and is our fifth independent director. Since April 2011 to date,
mr. Castillo Sanchez mejorada has been Co-Head of Wholesale banking of Grupo
Financiero banorte, S.A.b. de C.V. (“GFNorte”). From October 2000 to march 2011,
mr. Castillo Sanchez mejorada was the Chairman of the board and Chief Executive
Officer of ixe Grupo Financiero, S.A.b. de C.V. (“ixe GF”), a mexican financial holding
company that merged into GFNorte as of April 2011. in addition, from march 2007
to march 2009, mr. Castillo Sanchez mejorada was the President of the mexican
banking Association (Asociacion de bancos de mexico). Currently, mr. Castillo
Sanchez mejorada serves as an independent director on the boards of Grupo Herdez,
S.A.b. de C.V., a mexican holding company for the manufacture, sale and distribution
of food products; Alfa S.A.b. de C.V., a mexico-based holding company that, through
its subsidiaries, is engaged in the petrochemical, food processing, automotive and
telecommunication sectors; Grupo Embotelladoras Unidas, S.A.b. de C.V., a mexico-
based holding company primarily engaged in the beverages industry; medica Sur,
S.A.b. de C.V., a mexico-based company engaged in the hospital business; and
Grupo Casa Saba, S.A.b. de C.V., a mexican wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical,
116 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
health, beauty and other consumer products. mr. Castillo Sanchez mejorada holds
a bachelor’s degree in business Administration from the Universidad Anahuac in
mexico City, mexico.
Alberto de la Parra zavala
mr. de la Parra has been a director of the Company since July 26, 2007. He has
director.
been the General Counsel of Grupo mexico since February 2007. He was a partner
of Galicia y Robles, S.C., a prominent mexican law firm, from February 2002 to
January 2007. mr. de la Parra was a partner of Santamarina y Steta, S.C., one of
the largest law firms in mexico, from 1997 to 2002. He also worked for one year as
a foreign associate with the law firm White & Case LLP in New york City. mr. de la
Parra is an accomplished mexican attorney with broad experience in corporate and
financial matters, including mergers and acquisitions. He has represented mexican
and international clients before mexican authorities, including the banking and
Securities Exchange Commission, and the Stock Exchange. Additionally, mr. de
la Parra is the Corporate Secretary of the board of directors of Grupo mexico, and
of some of its subsidiaries. mr. de la Parra was a member of the board of Grupo
Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. b. de C. V. (airport services) from 2000 to 2007.
mr. de la Parra has a law degree from the Escuela Libre de derecho of mexico.
Xavier Garcia de Quevedo Topete
mr. Garcia de Quevedo has been a director of the Company since November 1999.
director.
He has been the President of minera mexico, S.A. de C.V. since September 2001
and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Copper minera mexico
and our Chief Operating Officer since April 12, 2005. He has been the President and
Chief Executive Officer of Americas mining Corporation (“AmC”) since September
7, 2007. From december 2009 to June 2010, he was Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Asarco LLC. He was previously President of Asarco LLC from November
1999 to September 2001. mr. Garcia de Quevedo initiated his professional career
in 1969 with Grupo mexico. He was President of Grupo Ferroviario mexicano, S.A.
de C.V. and of Ferrocarril mexicano, S.A. de C.V. from december 1997 to december
1999, and General director of Exploration and development of Grupo mexico from
1994 to 1997. He has been a director of Grupo mexico since April 2002. He was also
Vice President of Grupo Condumex, S.A. de C.V. (telecommunications, electronic and
automotive parts producer) for eight years. mr. Garcia de Quevedo was the Chairman
of the mining Chamber of mexico from November 2006 to August 2009. He is a
Chemical Engineer with a degree from the Autonomous National University of mexico
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 117
(UNAm). He also attended a continuous business administration and finance program
at the Technical institute of monterrey in mexico.
Genaro Larrea mota-Velasco
mr. Larrea was our Vice President Commercial from december 1999 until April 25,
director.
2002, and has been a director since November 1999. From April 1983 to August
2002, mr. Larrea held several positions in the areas of finance, commercial and
logistics with Grupo mexico. He has been a director of Grupo mexico since 1994.
He is currently Chairman of the board of directors of Corporacion Scribe, S.A.b. mr.
Larrea has a bachelor’s degree in business Administration from Newport University
and a Global Leadership Program certificate from Thunderbird University. He and mr.
German Larrea mota-Velasco are brothers.
daniel muñiz Quintanilla
mr. muñiz has been a director of the Company since may 28, 2008. mr. muñiz has
director.
been the Chief Financial Officer of Grupo mexico since April 2007. Prior to joining
Grupo mexico, mr. muñiz was a practicing corporate-finance lawyer from 1996 to
2006. during this time he worked at Cortes, muñiz y Nuñez Sarrapy; mijares, Angoitia,
Cortes y Fuentes; and baker & mcKenzie (London and mexico City offices). He holds
a master’s degree in Financial Law from Georgetown University, and a master’s degree
in business Administration from instituto de Empresa in madrid.
Luis miguel Palomino bonilla
dr. Palomino has been a director of the Company since march 19, 2004 and is a
director.
special independent director nominee. dr. Palomino has been Chairman of the board
of Aventura Plaza S. A. (commercial real estate developer and operator) since January
2008, manager of the Peruvian Economic institute (economic think tank) since April
2009, Partner of RmG Consultores (a financial consulting firm) since July 2007, director
of the master in Finance Program at the University of the Pacific in Lima, Peru since
July 2009, and a member of the board of various organizations. He was a member of
the board of directors of Access SEAF SAFi from december 2007 to April 2010. dr.
Palomino was previously Principal and Senior Consultant of Proconsulta international
(financial consulting) from September 2003 to June 2007. Previously he was First
Vice President and Chief Economist, Latin America, for merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith, New york (investment banking) from 2000 to 2002. He was Chief Executive
Officer, Senior Country and Equity Analyst of merrill Lynch, Peru (investment banking)
from 1995 to 2000. dr. Palomino has held various positions with banks and financial
institutions as an economist, financial advisor and analyst. He has a Phd in finance from
118 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and graduated from
the Economics Program of the University of the Pacific, Lima, Peru.
Gilberto Perezalonso Cifuentes
mr. Perezalonso has been a director of the Company since June 2002 and is a special
director.
independent director nominee. He was Chief Executive Officer of Corporacion Geo
S.A. de C.V. (housing construction) from February 2006 to February 2007. mr.
Perezalonso was the Chief Executive Officer of Aeromexico (Aerovias de mexico,
S.A. de C.V.) (airline company) from 2004 until december 2005. From 1998 until
April 2001, he was Executive Vice President of Administration and Finance of Grupo
Televisa, S.A.b. (media company). From 1980 until February 1998, mr. Perezalonso
held various positions with Grupo Cifra, S.A. de C.V. (department stores), the most
recent position being that of General director of Administration and Finance. Now
he is a member of the advisory council of banco Nacional de mexico, S.A. de C.V.
(banking), the board and the investment committee of Afore banamex (banking),
the board and the investment committee of Siefore banamex No. 1 (banking), and
is a member of the boards of Gigante, S.A. de C.V. (retail), masnegocio Co. S. de
R.L. de C.V. (information technology), intellego (technology), Telefonica moviles
mexico, S.A. de C.V. (wireless communication), and Construction Company marhnos
(housing construction). mr. Perezalonso was a director of Cablevision, S.A. de C.V.,
Grupo Televisa, S.A.b. and a member of the audit committee of Grupo Televisa, S.A.b.
from march 1998 to September 2009. mr. Perezalonso has a law degree from the
iberoamerican University and a master’s degree in business Administration from
the business Administration Graduate School for Central America (iNCAE). mr.
Perezalonso has also attended the Corporate Finance program at Harvard University.
Juan Rebolledo Gout
mr. Rebolledo has been a director of the Company since may 30, 2003. mr. Rebolledo
director.
has been international Vice President of Grupo mexico since 2001. He was deputy
Secretary of Foreign Affairs of mexico from 1994 to 2000 and deputy Chief of Staff
to the President of mexico from 1993 to 1994. Previously, he was Assistant to the
President of mexico (1989-1993), director of the “National institute for the Historical
Studies of the mexican Revolution” of the Secretariat of Government (1985-1988),
dean of Graduate Studies at the National Autonomous University of mexico (UNAm),
Political Science department (1984-1985), and professor of said university (1981-
1983). mr. Rebolledo holds a law degree from UNAm, an mA in philosophy from
Tulane University, and an LLm from Harvard Law School.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 119
Carlos Ruiz Sacristan
mr. Ruiz Sacristan has been a director of the Company since February 12, 2004 and is
director.
a special independent director nominee. Since November 2001, he has been the owner
and managing Partner of Proyectos Estrategicos integrales, a mexican investment
banking firm specialized in agricultural, transport, tourism, and housing projects. mr.
Ruiz Sacristan has held various distinguished positions in the mexican government,
the most recent being that of Secretary of Communication and Transportation of
mexico from 1995 to 2000. While holding that position, he was also Chairman of
the board of directors of the mexican-owned companies in the sector, and member
of the board of directors of development banks. He was also a director of Asarco
LLC. mr. Ruiz Sacristan is a member of the board of directors since 2007 and of
the Audit, and Environmental and Technology Committees of Sempra Energy (energy
services). He is a member of the board of directors of Constructora y Perforadora
Latina S.A. de C.V. (mexican geothermal exploration and drilling company), of banco
Ve Por mas S.A. (mexican bank), and of OHL Concesiones mexico (a construction
and civil engineering company), and of AmAiT (an international airport in mexico).
mr. Ruiz Sacristan holds a bachelor’s degree in business Administration from the
Anahuac University of mexico City, and an mbA degree from Northwestern University
of Chicago.
120 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
EXEcuTivE OFFicERS
German Larrea mota-Velasco
Chairman of the board of directors
Oscar Gonzalez Rocha
President and Chief Executive Officer
Xavier Garcia de Quevedo Topete
President and Chief Executive Officer Southern Copper minera mexico and our
Chief Operating Officer
Genaro Guerrero diaz mercado
Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Raul Jacob Ruisanchez
Comptroller
Jose de los Heros Ugarte
Vice-President, Commercial
Vidal muhech dip
Vice-President, Projects
Remigio martinez muller
Vice-President, Explorations
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 121
Next of kin
messrs. German Larrea mota-Velasco, Chairman of the board of the Company and
Genaro Larrea mota-Velasco, a director of the Company are brothers or kindred in
second degree of consanguinity.
A company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by a single entity, a
“controlled company”, need not comply with the requirements of the New york Stock
Exchange (“NySE”) corporate governance rules requiring a majority of independent
directors and independent compensation and nomination/corporate governance
committees. SCC is a controlled company as defined by the rules of the NySE.
Grupo mexico owns indirectly 80.86% of the stock of the Company, as of december
31, 2011. The Company has taken advantage of the exceptions to comply with the
corporate governance rules of the NySE. The board of directors of the Company
determined that messrs. Luis miguel Palomino bonilla, Gilberto Perezalonso
Cifuentes, and Emilio Carrillo Gamboa, the three members of the Company’s Audit
Committee, are independent of management and financially literate in accordance
with the requirements of the NySE and the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”), as such requirements are interpreted by the Company’s board of directors
in its business judgment. in 2011, we had three special independent directors
nominated by the Special Nominating Committee, messrs. Luis miguel Palomino
bonilla, Gilberto Perezalonso Cifuentes, and Carlos Ruiz Sacristan. Additionally in
2011, messrs. Emilio Carrillo Gamboa and Enrique Castillo Sanchez mejorada were
our fourth and fifth independent directors. At its meeting on January 26, 2012, the
board of directors determined that messrs. Luis miguel Palomino bonilla, Gilberto
Perezalonso Cifuentes, Carlos Ruiz Sacristan, Emilio Carrillo Gamboa, and Enrique
Castillo Sanchez mejorada were independent of management in accordance with
the requirements of the NySE as such requirements are interpreted by our board
of directors in its business judgment. At its meeting on January 26, 2012, the
122 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
board of directors approved the nomination of special independent directors made
by the Special Nominating Committee and endorsed the determination made by the
Special Nominating Committee that messrs. Luis miguel Palomino bonilla, Gilberto
Perezalonso Cifuentes, and Carlos Ruiz Sacristan are independent of management
in accordance with the requirements of the NySE, as such requirements are
interpreted by the Special Nominating Committee and our board of directors in their
respective business judgments. The board of directors also determined that messrs.
Emilio Carrillo Gamboa and Enrique Castillo Sanchez mejorada are independent of
management in accordance with the requirements of the NySE as such requirements
are interpreted by our board of directors in its business judgment.
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no other relationship of affinity and/or
consanguinity exists among the other members of the board, and between them and
the Executive Officers of Southern Copper Corporation.
Special Committees of the board
SCC’s board of directors has organized the following Special Committees:
1, Comite Ejecutivo, sitting five members who substitute for the board when sessions
or decisions are required concerning urgent matters, or which the board would
have expressly delegated its mandate.
2, Audit Committee, sitting three independent board members who are knowledgeable
in accounting and financial matters. its main purpose is to (a) assist the board in
monitoring (i) the quality and integrity of the Company’s financial statements; (ii)
the qualifications and independence of the independent auditors;(iii) the appropriate
performance of the internal audit function; and (iv) the Company’s compliance with
legal and regulatory provisions; and (b) prepare the report requirement by SEC rules.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 123
3, Compensation Committee, comprising of four board members, its principal
objective is to evaluate and establish the remunerations of senior officials and
key employees at the Company and its subsidiaries, and eventual raises in
remuneration.
4, Special Committee Nominees, comprising of 2 independents board members and,
one nominees by the board, its principal objective is to promote and evaluate
people who are propose as Special and independents directors.
5. Corporate Governance Committee, its four board members have as their principal
role to advise the board on its functions and needs, develop and recommend
the approval of the Company’s good governance principles, and overseeing the
evaluation of the board’s and management’s performance.
6. Administrative Committee, designated by the board for (Employee Retirement
income Security Act – ERiSA - USA) benefits Plans. The Vice-President for Finance
and Chief Financial Officer is the board-appointed Trustee for the Company’s
benefits Plans subject to US regulations, including ERiSA. This Officer will appoint
an Administrative Committee sitting four management members whose purpose is
to administrate and manage those plans and to oversee the performance of the trust
agents and others charged with investing the plans’ monies.
124 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Administration and board income
Total remunerations of board and Administration members, in relation to the
Company´s gross income is 0.179%.
ANNUAL mEETiNG
The annual stockholders meeting of Southern Copper Corporation will be held
on Thursday, April 26, 2010 at 09:00 hours. mexico City time, at Edificio Parque
Reforma, Campos Eliseos No. 400, 9th Floor, Colonia Lomas de Chapultepec, mexico
City, mexico.
corporate Offices:
United States
1440 East missouri
Avenue, Suite C-175
mexico
Edificio Parque Reforma, Campos Eliseos
No. 400 11th floor
Phoenix, Az. 85014, USA
Col. Lomas de Chapultepec mexico d.F.
Phone: (602)264-1375.
Phone. +(52-55) 1103-5320,
Peru
Av. Caminos del inca No. 171
Chacarilla del Estanque
Santiago de Surco Lima 33, Peru
Phone. +(511) 512-0440, Ext. 3442.
Transfer Agent, Registrar and Stockholder Services
The bank of New york mellon Corporation (bONy)
Shareowner Services
480 Washington boulevard
Jersey City, NJ 07310-1900
Phone +1(866) 230-0172
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 125
dividend Reinvestment Program.
SCC stockholders can have their dividends automatically reinvested in SCC common
shares. SCC pays all administrative and brokerage fees. This plan is administered by
The bank of New york mellon Corporation. For more information, contact The bank
of New york mellon Corporation at phone +1(866) 230-0172.
Stock Exchange Listing.
The principal markets for SCC’s Common Stock are the New york Stock Exchange and
the Lima Stock Exchange. Effective February 17, 2010, SCC’s Common Stock changed
its symbol from PCU to SCCO on both the NySE and the Lima Stock Exchange.
Others
The branch in Peru has issued, in accordance with Peruvian law, ‘investment shares’
(formerly named labor shares) that are quoted in the Lima Stock Exchange under the
symbol SPCCPi1 and SPCCPi2.
Transfer Agent, registrar and stockholders services are provided by banco de Credito
of Peru at Avenue Centenario 156, La molina, Lima 12, Peru. Phone +(511) 313-
2478, Fax +(511) 313-2556.
1declaracion de Poder, anexo 3325
126 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Other Corporate information
For other information on the corporation or to obtain additional copies of the annual
report, Form 10-K, contact to investor Relations department at our corporate offices:
Southern Copper Corporation
USA: 1440 East missouri Avenue, Suite C-175 Phoenix, Az. 85014, USA
Phone: (602)264-1375, Fax (602) 264 1397
mEXiCO: Campos Eliseos No. 400, 11 floor, Col. Lomas de Chapultepec mexico d.F.
Phone +(52-55) 1103-5000, Extension 5855
PERU: Avenue Caminos del inca 171 (b-2), Chacarilla del Estanque, Santiago de
Surco – Lima 33 - Peru. Phone. +(511) 512-0440, Ext. 3442.
Web Page:
www.southerncoppercorp.com
Email address:
southerncopper@southernperu.com.pe
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 127
Form 10-K1
Attached Form 10-K contains management’s discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations, Consolidated Combined Financial Statements
and the accompanying notes are an integral part of these Annual Report.
1Form 10-K, Phone. +(511) 512-0440, extension 3442 for Spanish
128 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Cuajone mine in moquegua, Peru.
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 129
Members of the Board of Directors
German Larrea mota-Velasco
Oscar Gonzalez Rocha
Emilio Carrillo Gamboa
Alfredo Casar Perez
Alberto de la Parra zavala
Xavier Garcia de Quevedo Topete
Genaro Larrea mota-Velasco
daniel muñiz Quintanilla
Luis miguel Palomino bonilla
Gilberto Perezalonso Cifuentes
Juan Rebolledo Gout
Carlos Ruiz Sacristan
Luis Castellazo morales
Enrique Castillo Sanchez mejorada
Audit committee
Emilio Carrillo Gamboa, Chairman
Luis miguel Palomino bonilla, and
Gilberto Perezalonso Cifuentes
130 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
Executive Officers
German Larrea mota-Velasco
Chairman of the board
Oscar Gonzalez Rocha
President and Chief Executive Officer
Xavier Garcia de Quevedo Topete
President and Chief Executive Officer Southern Copper minera mexico and our
Chief Operating Officer
Genaro Guerrero diaz mercado
Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Jose de los Heros Ugarte
Vice-President Commercial
Vidal muhech dip
Vice-President, Projects
Raul Jacob Ruisanchez
Comptroller
Remigio martinez müller
Vice-President, Explorations
ANNUAL REPORT SOUTHERN COPPER 131
132 SOUTHERN COPPER ANNUAL REPORT
STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
“To the best of our knowledge this document contains truthful and sufficient information regarding the development of the
“To the best of our knowledge this document contains truthful and sufficient information regarding the development of the
business of Southern Copper Corporation (“SCC”) during 2011. SCC takes responsibility for its contents according to appli-
business of Southern Copper Corporation (“SCC”) during 2011. SCC takes responsibility for its contents according to appli-
cable requirements”.
cable requirements”.
Hans A. Flury Royle
Hans A. Flury Royle
Raul Jacob Ruisanchez
Raul Jacob Ruisanchez
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Comptroller
Comptroller
CONVERSION INFORMATION: All tonnages in this annual report are metric tons unless otherwise noted. To convert to short
CONVERSION INFORMATION: All tonnages in this annual report are metric tons unless otherwise noted. To convert to short
tons, multiply by 1.102. All distances are in kilometers, to convert to miles, multiply by 0.62137. All ounces are troy ounces.
tons, multiply by 1.102. All distances are in kilometers, to convert to miles, multiply by 0.62137. All ounces are troy ounces.
U.S. dollar amounts represent either historical dollar amounts, where appropriate, or U.S. dollar equivalents translated in accor-
U.S. dollar amounts represent either historical dollar amounts, where appropriate, or U.S. dollar equivalents translated in accor-
dance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. “SCCO”, “SCC”, “Southern Copper” or the “Com-
dance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. “SCCO”, “SCC”, “Southern Copper” or the “Com-
pany” includes Southern Copper Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. As a way to reflect the beginning of a new era
pany” includes Southern Copper Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. As a way to reflect the beginning of a new era
for developing the Cananea property to its full potential, on December 11, 2010, we have changed the name of the company
for developing the Cananea property to its full potential, on December 11, 2010, we have changed the name of the company
operating it to Buenavista del Cobre (“Buenavista”).
operating it to Buenavista del Cobre (“Buenavista”).
Phoenix
Mexico
Peru
2011
Annual Report