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Southern Copper

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FY2016 Annual Report · Southern Copper
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ANNUAL REPORT WHOLLY 

SOLID

SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION

OFICINAS CORPORATIVAS
ESTADOS UNIDOS
1440 E. Missouri Avenue, 
Suite 160, Phoenix, AZ 85014, EE.UU.
Teléfono: +(602) 264-1375

MÉXICO
Edificio Parque Reforma, Campos Elíseos Nº 400. piso 9
Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, México D.F.
Teléfono: + (52-55) 1103-5000

PERÚ 
Av. Caminos del Inca 171
Chacarilla del Estanque, Santiago de Surco 
Lima 33 - Perú
Teléfono: +(511) 512-0440, Anexo 3354

Símbolo: SCCO

E-mail

southerncopper@southernperu.com.pe

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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 2016. SCC takes responsibility for its contents according to 

applicable requirements”.

ANDRÉS FERRERO G.  

Assistant Secretary 

RAÚL JACOB RUISÁNCHEZ

Vice-President Finance and  

Chief Financial Officer

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 

accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. “SCCO”, “SCC”, “Southern Copper” or the 

“Company” includes Southern Copper Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.  

 
 
 
 
INDEX

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS 

PRODUCTION STATISTICS  

COPPER RESERVES 

03 

08 

11 

SELECTED AND FINANCIAL DATA CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAM AND EXPLORATION  17 

(EXPANSION & MODERNIZATION) 

DEVELOPMENT - COMMUNITY OUTREACH  

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016, 2015 AND 2014 

COMMITMENT - ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT REGARDING THE ISSUING ENTITY

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

23 

39 

45 

61 

103 

2

Sunset in La 

Caridad,Sonora, 

Mexico.

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS3

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

2016 has been a truly remarkable year for Southern Copper: our Company record 

production of copper portrays the successful culmination of our first stage strategic 

growth  plan  executed  to  increase  our  production  from  479,000  tons  in  2010  to 

900,000 tons in 2016.

We  are  extremely  pleased  with  our  growth  initiatives,  particularly  the  $3.5  billion 

brownfield  expansion  of  Buenavista  in  Mexico,  swiftly  and  efficiently  executed 

amidst  a  highly  volatile  and  challenging  commodities  market  environment,  and 

which  has  become  today  a  world-class  copper  mine  with  leading  production,  the 

largest reserves and one of the lowest cash cost. 

At the same time, during 2016, SCC has become the highest margin copper producer 

globally. A keen and continued focus on operating efficiency and optimization have 

reduced our cash costs, after credits for by-products, to achieve $0.95 per pound 

produced in 2016. 

Southern Copper is uniquely positioned to continue delivering enhanced performance, 

sustainable  growth  and  superior  value.  Our  best-in-class  low  cost  operations, 

coupled  with  a  large,  high-quality  reserve  base  in  investment  grade  jurisdictions, 

continues to offer highly attractive growth opportunities. Our robust capital structure 

and strong cash-flow generation provide the financial and strategic flexibility required 

for its execution. 

The year 2017 will be the starting point of a new strategic plan: we will grow copper 

production capacity to exceed the 1 million ton milestone by mid-2018, and by 2023 

we expect to reach 1.5 million copper tons.”  We are convinced that we can do it.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 Our copper reserves exceed 71 million tons of copper 

The  $  3.5  billion  investment  program  in  Mexico  has 

content, giving us a 59-year mine life expectancy at the 

been  executed  optimally.  The  Buenavista  program  it 

current production rate. We believe that SCC is the best 

is  being  completed  on  time  and  $100  million  below 

company in its class in generating cash flow despite the 

our  budget,  including  the  Crushing,  Conveying  and 

cycle of low copper prices. In addition, we have solid 

Spreading  System  for  Leachable  Ore  (Quebalix  IV). 

balance sheets that provide great financial flexibility for 

These  projects  will  start  operating  during  2017  and 

the continuous growth that we have projected. We also 

they  have  as  main  objective  to  reduce  processing 

have  the  best  portfolio  of  Profitable  Growth  Projects: 

time, as well as the costs of mining and hauling costs. 

Copper  Production  from  900,000  tons  to  1.5  million 

Also,  production  will  be  increased  by  improving  SW-

tons, representing a growth of more than 66%.

EW  copper  recovery.  The  installed  transport  system 

4

is  operating  continuously. The  project  has  reached  a 

Over  the  next  seven  years,  we  expect  to  increase 

99% advance and $ 285.7 million has been invested 

production  organically:  In  our  Peruvian  operations 

from a budget of $ 444.2 million.

we  expect:  i)  Toquepala,  annual  increase  in  copper 

production  from  100,000  tons  to  217,000  tons  in 

In Peru we are working on five copper projects with a 

2018  and  260,000  tons  in  2019  and  3,100  tons  of 

total capital investment of $2.9 billion. The Toquepala 

molybdenum per year. (ii) Develop the Tia Maria project 

Expansion  Project,  with  a  $1.2  billion  investment, 

(with  a  production  capacity  of  120,000  tons  of  SW-

includes a new-state-of-the-art concentrator which will 

EW copper per year) and Los Chancas project, which 

increase annual copper production by 100,000 tons to 

will be a combined SW-EW and concentrator operation 

217,000 tons in 2018 and 260,000 tons in 2019, and 

with a production capacity of 100,000 tons of copper 

will  also  increase  annual  molybdenum  production  by 

and  4,500  tons  of  molybdenum.  Both  mines  will  be 

3,100  tons.   Through  December  31,  2016,  we  have 

open pit.

invested  $550.4  million  in  the  project.  The  project 

has  reached  a  53%  progress  and  is  expected  to 

In  Mexico  we  plan  to  develop  the  following  open  pit 

be  completed  in  the  second  quarter  of  2018.  Other 

mines:  i)  Pillars,  which  will  take  advantage  of  the 

projects are: i) Toquepala High Pressure Grinding Roll 

infrastructure  of  La  Caridad  mine.  Ii)  El  Pilar  will 

(HPGR)  System,  which  will  ensure  that  our  existing 

produce  SW-EW  copper,  each  one  with  a  production 

concentrator  will  operate  at  its  maximum  capacity  of 

capacity  of  35,000  tons  per  year.  Iii) The Arc  will  be 

60,000 tons per day, even with an increase of the ore 

a  combined  SW-EW  and  concentrator  operation  with 

material hardness index. (ii) Cuajone’s Heavy Mineral 

a  copper  production  of  200,000  tons  per  year  and  a 

Management  Optimizing  Project,  which  consists  of 

significant production of by-product of gold of 105,000 

installing  a  primary  crusher  at  the  Cuajone  mine 

ounces per year. Iv) Buenavista Zinc with a production 

pit,  with  conveyor  system  for  moving  the  ore  to  the 

capacity of 60,000 tons of zinc per year. 

concentrator.  The project aims to optimize the hauling 

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS5

Mining 

Operations, 

Southern Copper 

Corporation.

process  by  replacing  rail  haulage,  thereby  reducing  operating  and  maintenance 

costs, as well as environmental impact. It is expected to be completed in the second 

quarter  of  2017.  (iii)  Cuajone  tailing  thickener  project,  which  will  replace  two  of 

the three existing thickeners with a new hi-rate thickener in order to optimize the 

concentrator flotation process and improve water recovery efficiency, increasing the 

tailings solid content from 54% to 61%, thereby reducing fresh water consumption 

and replacing it with recovered water. We expect the project to be completed in the 

second  quarter  of  2017.  iv)  In  relation  to  the Tia  Maria  project,  we  are  currently 

working to obtain the construction license.

We believe that Southern Copper has solid foundations that guarantee its business 

success, as well as a proper return that allows us to finance - simultaneously - both 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 Panoramic view of  Buenavista 

del Cobre mine, Sonora, Mexico

6

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERSthe  development  of  productive  projects  and  important  social  programs 

that we execute in each of the countries where we are present, benefiting 

7

neighboring towns to our operational areas.

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

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 PRODUCTION STATISTICS
Southern Copper Corporation and Subsidiaries.  
Five-year Production Statistics

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

Copper production Mines 

(tons)

Mined Material 

(thousand)

742,935

764,532

758,965

641,456

568,428

Copper in concentrates

715,360

569,072

532,291

498,361

516,572

Copper SX/EW

Total Copper

Molybdenum in concentrates

Zinc in concentrates

Silver in concentrates

Smelter/refineries production

Copper

Zinc

Silver

Toquepala

Mined Material

Copper in concentrates

Molybdenum in concentrates

Cuajone

Mined Material 

Copper in concentrates

Molybdenum in concentrates

Smelter/refineries in Peru

SX/EW

Smelt concentrates

Blister produced

Anode produced

Cathode produced

Mexicana de Cobre - Caridad

184,595

173,921

144,308

118,658

121,107

899,955

742,993

676,599

617,019

637,679

21,736

73,984

16,172

23,347

61,905

13,288

23,120

66,614

12,992

19,897

99,372

13,513

18,297

89,884

13,644

(thousand ounces)

591,339

597,945

561,939

545,082

558,998

106,093

100,576

(thousand ounces)

15,196

13,638

92,133

13,348

97,692

15,572

93,542

13,867

(thousand)

209,064

193,013

211,202

   169,808 

173,927

116,525

119,427

114,828

   110,691 

120,108

6,324

7,924

6,100

       4,662 

4,468

(thousand)

175,009

191,651

182,812

   173,277 

154,091

171,448

178,187

178,337

   168,582 

158,793

3,926

4,444

4,001

       3,133 

2,861

24,880

24,167

25,675

    28,400 

32,194

1,070,588

1,143,682

1,022,536

1,072,826 

996,592

929

2,800

-

       1,670 

32,843

322,567

338,893

303,939

  322,637 

265,213

270,183

280,587

257,926

  271,035 

215,666

Mined Material 

(thousand)

98,435

94,283

91,454

     88,595 

Copper in concentrates

Molybdenum in concentrates

104,949

103,861

101,062

     96,863 

9,911

10,040

10,800

     11,742 

86,632

97,847

10,968

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

(thousand)

257,395

282,954

271,026

   206,710 

150,871

140,661

142,025

132,853

   115,813 

133,966

159,715

149,754

118,633

     90,258 

88,913

1,004,829

933,403

926,427

   722,597 

904,311

267,843

256,252

258,000

   220,775 

260,941

224,158

144,516

213,360

138,180

204,302

   188,005 

213,734

129,078

   126,800 

120,791

Buenavista

Mined material 

Copper in concentrates

Smelter/Refineries in Mexico

SX/EW

Smelt concentrates

Anode produced

Cathode produced

Rod produced

Underground Mines

Contents in concentrates 

(tons)

Zinc

Lead

Copper in concentrates

Silver

Gold

73,984

24,385

6,428

5,622

6,420

61,905

20,693

5,593

4,995

4,697

66,614

     99,372 

22,286

     23,918 

5,211

4,945

4,857

      6,412 

       6,170 

5,493 

89,884

19,978

5,858

5,974

5,210

(thousand ounces)

(thousand ounces)

10

Buenavista del 

Cobre, Sonora, 

Mexico

11

COPPER 
RESERVES

THE FINANCIAL STRENGTH OF THE COMPANY ALLOWS IT 
CONTINUOUS GROWTH. DURING 2016, SOUTHERN COPPER 
CORPORATION HAD A SOLID BALANCE.

12

SX-EW III Plant 

Buenavista del Cobre, Sonora, Mexico.

ORE RESERVES13

SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
COPPER RESERVES

We believe we hold the world’s largest copper reserve position. At December 31, 2016, our 

copper ore reserves, calculated at a copper price of $2.90 per pound, totaled 71.4 million 

tons of contained copper (In 2016, the average LME and COMEX per pound copper prices 

were $2.21 and $2.20, respectively), our internal ore reserve estimation value is as follows: 

COPPER CONTAINED IN ORE RESERVES 

(Thousand tons)

Mexican open-pit:

Peru operations

IMMSA

Development projects

Total

32,523

24,237

229

14,392

71,381

For more information on ore reserves refer to “Internal Ore Reserves Estimates”, on page 60 

in our 2016 Form 10-K.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016  
Casa Grande integrates with 

the  communities  nearby to its 

operations.

14

ORE RESERVES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)

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

Consolidated Statement of Earnings

Net sales

Operating costs and expenses

Operating income

$  5,379.8

$ 5,045.9

$  5,787.7

$ 5,952.9 $  6,669.3

3,815.6

1,564.2

3,631.5

   3,555.0

1,414.4

2,232.7

3,420.8

2,532.1

3,560.4

3,108.9

Net income attributable to Non-controlling interest 

2.3

4.7

4.9

5.7

6.7

Net earnings attributable to SCC

$   776.5

$  736.4

$  1,333.0

$1,618.5

$1,934.6

15

Per share amount: 

Earnings basic and diluted

Dividends paid

Consolidated Balance Sheet

Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Total debt

Total equity

$     1.00

$    0.93

$       1.61

$     1.92

$    2.28

$     0.18

$    0.34

$       0.46

$     0.68

$    4.06

$    546.0

$  274.5

$     364.0

$1,672.7

$2,459.5

13,234.3

12,593.2

11,393.9

10,970.0

10,357.8

5,954.2

5,951.5

4,180.9

4,178.9

4,188.0

$ 5,870.9

$ 5,299.2

$  5,836.6

$5,561.8

$4,789.1

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Cash provided by operating activities

$  923.1

$  879.8

$  1,355.9

$ 1,859.1

$ 2,004.0

Dividends paid

Capital investments

139.3

271.2

381.0

573.8

1,118.5

1,149.6

1,529.8

1,703.3

3,140.0

1,051.9

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

$  647.1

$  510.7

$    445.0

$  396.0

$   325.7

Capital Stock

Common shares outstanding – basic and diluted

773.0

775.9

812.6

835.3

845.6

NYSE price – high

NYSE price – low

Book value per share

P/E ratio

Financial Ratios

$  34.98

$  33.14

$  33.54

$  41.96

$  38.94

$  22.29

$  24.40

$  26.08

$  24.78

$  28.16

7.54

31.82

6.78

       7.14

28.19

17.52

6.62

14.95

5.64

16.60

Current assets to current liabilities

Net debt as % of Net capitalization (1)

Employees (at year end)

2.57

47.7%

13,414

2.70

48.9%

13,024

2.07

37.3%

12,735

4.36

29.2%

12,665

5.00

25.0%

12,085

(1) Represents net debt divided by net debt plus equity. Net debt is defined as total debt minus cash, cash equivalents and short-term 

investments balance.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 16

Copper cathodes “Grade 

A” which are traded in the 

world market.

17

Capital 
Expenditures 
and 
Exploration 
(Expansion and 
Modernization)

LA FORTALEZA FINANCIERA DE LA EMPRESA LE PERMITE UN 
CRECIMIENTO CONTINUO. DURANTE 2016, GRUPO MEXICO MANTUVO 
UN SOLIDO BALANCE CON UN BAJO NIVEL DE APALANCAMIENTO CON 
UN RAZON DE DUEDA NETA A EBITDA DE 1.9X Y UNA DURACION DE LA 
DUEDA SUPERIOR A 20 AÑOS. 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 18

Panoramic view, 

Buenavista del Cobre, 

Sonora, Mexico.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND EXPLORATION

We  made  capital  investments  of  $1,118.5  million  in  2016,  $1,250.0  million  in  2015  (including 

the  El  Pilar  acquisition)  and  $1,529.8  million  in  2014.  In  general,  the  capital  investments  and 

projects described below are intended to increase production, decrease costs or address social and 

environmental commitments.

This  is  2.7%  lower  than  in  2015,  and  represented  144%  of  net  income.  Our  growth  program 

to  develop  the  full  production  potential  of  our  Company  is  underway.  In  addition,  the  Buenavista 

expansion program is largely completed.

For 2017, the Board of Directors approved a capital investment program of $1,105.2 million. The 

year 2017 will be the starting point of a new strategic plan: we will grow copper production capacity 

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND EXPLORATION 
DURING 2016, 2015 AND 2014, 
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS OF 
SOUTHERN COPPER RAISED UP 
TO $3,898.3 MILLION.

to exceed the one million ton milestone by mid-2018, and by 2023 we expect to 

reach 1.5 million copper tons.

In  addition  to  our  ongoing  capital  maintenance  and  replacement  spending,  our 

principal capital programs include the following:

19

PROJECTS IN MEXICO: 

Buenavista Projects—Sonora: The Buenavista program is being completed on time 

and $100 million below our budget, including the crushing, conveying and spreading 

system for leachable ore project (Quebalix IV). This project will reduce processing 

time as well as mining and hauling costs, increasing production by improving SX-EW 

copper recovery. The installed conveyor system is operating steadily. The project has 

reached 99% progress and $285.7 million have been invested as of December 31, 

2016 from a budget of $444.2 million. 

PROJECTS IN PERU: 

We are currently working on five copper projects in Peru with a total capital investment 

for these projects of $2,900 million.

Toquepala  Concentrator  Expansion  Project—Tacna:  This  $1.2  billion  project 

includes  a  new  state-of-the-art  concentrator  which  will  increase  annual  copper 

production by 100,000 tons to 217,000 tons in 2018 and 260,000 tons in 2019, and 

will also increase annual molybdenum production by 3,100 tons. Through December 

31, 2016, we have invested $550.4 million in the project. The project has reached 

53% progress and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2018.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 Drilling for mining 

operations.

20

The project to improve the crushing process at Toquepala with the installation of a 

High Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) system, has as its main objective, to ensure that 

our  existing  concentrator  will  operate  at  its  maximum  milling  capacity  of  60,000 

tons per day, even with an increase of the ore material hardness index. Additionally, 

recoveries  will  be  improved  and  production  enhanced  with  a  better  ore  crushing. 

The budget for this project is $40 million and as of December 31, 2016, we have 

invested  $21.9  million  in  this  project. We  expect  that  it  will  be  completed  by  the 

fourth quarter of 2017.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND EXPLORATIONCuajone Projects—Moquegua: The Heavy Mineral Management Optimizing Project 

consists of installing a primary crusher at the Cuajone mine pit with a conveyor system 

for  moving  the  ore  to  the  concentrator.  The  project  aims  to  optimize  the  hauling 

process by replacing rail haulage, thereby reducing operating and maintenance costs 

as well as the environmental impact of the Cuajone mine. The crusher will have a 

processing capacity of 43.8 million tons per year. The main components, including 

the crusher and the seven kilometer overland conveyor belt, have been acquired and 

we are well underway with electromechanical assembly. As of December 31, 2016, 

we have invested $150.9 million in this project out of the approved capital budget 

of  $215.5  million.  The  project  has  reached  80%  progress  and  is  expected  to  be 

completed by the second quarter of 2017.

21

The Cuajone tailing thickeners project at the concentrator will replace two of the three 

existing  thickeners  with  a  new  hi-rate  thickener. The  purpose  is  to  streamline  the 

concentrator flotation process and improve water recovery efficiency, increasing the 

tailings solids content from 54% to 61%, thereby reducing fresh water consumption 

and  replacing  it  with  recovered  water. As  of  December  31,  2016,  we  have  almost 

completed the engineering and procurement process and have started the excavation 

and civil works. We have invested $14.4 million in this project out of the approved 

capital budget of $30 million. The project has reached 62% progress and we expect 

it to be completed by the second quarter of 2017. 

Tailings  disposal  at  Quebrada  Honda—Moquegua:  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 and construction of the drainage system for the lateral 

dam is finished. We finished the engineering and procurement is in progress. In order 

to improve and increase the dam’s embankment, we have assigned a construction 

contractor to install a new cyclone battery station that will allow us to place more 

slurry at the dams. The project has a total budgeted cost of $116.0 million. We have 

invested  $71.7  million  through  December  31,  2016  and  expect  the  project  to  be 

completed by the second quarter of 2018.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 22

Mills in Cuajone Concentrator 
Moquegua, Peru.

CON 80 AÑOS DE TRAYECTORIA, LA DIVISION INFRAESTRUTURA 
CUENTA CON UNA CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCIA QUE SE VE 
REFLEJADA EN EL CRECIMIENTO DE LA DIVISION. EL EBITDA 
DE LA DIVISION  SE INCREMENTO EN 4.4 VECES EN LOS ULTIMOS 
CUATRO AÑOS, PASANDO DE US$63 MILLONES EN 2012 A 
US$279 MILLONES EN 2016.

Community 
Outreach

23

6
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L
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I

 
 
 
 
Ite wetlands, Moquegua, 

Peru.

24

SOUTHERN COPPER IS 
A LEADING COMPANY, 
WHICH INNOVATES, 
IT IS EFFICIENT AND 
WORKS SO THAT ITS 
OPERATIONS HAVE MORE 
AND BETTER RESULTS.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MEASURES  

Southern  Copper  Corporation  is  committed  to  generate  the  greatest 

value for our stakeholders, aligned with our business objectives. In this 

regard, we seek to achieve an increasingly responsible operation in the 

social, economic and environmental fields, considering the expectations 

of our stakeholders and aiming at the sustainability of the organization 

over  time,  to  continue  contributing  directly  and  indirectly  with  the 

development of the country.

Our  business  goal  is  the  Meaningful  Development,  with  which  we 

align our investments and the distribution of economic value, from the 

strengthening of the environment, from the human and environmental 

point of view among our employees, communities and other stakeholders. 

We do our best every day to consolidate the confidence they have in 

us,  making  them  participants  in  management,  communicating  our 

performance and listening to their expectations, in order to create share 

value together.

COMMUNITY OUTREACHIN 2016, 4 UNITS WERE GRANTED THE 
ISO 14001:2004. THESE TOGETHER 
WITH THE 22 CLEAN INDUSTRY 
AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 
CERTIFICATIONS.

OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT

We  maintain  an  ongoing  commitment  to  advance  in  harmony  with  the 

challenges  of  expansion  and  modernization  of  the  industry  in  which  we 

participate. In this sense, we not only seek regulatory compliance, we also 

25

operate under the best environmental practices, in order to always achieve 

optimum environmental performance, to identify, evaluate and mitigate the 

impacts generated by our activities on the environment.

To do this, we have strategies that meet the specific environmental needs of 

each region in which we operate, and use an environmental management 

system that we have developed, with the following 9 lines of action.

These lines of action are carried out in compliance with international and 

local certifications that rule our operating units in countries where we are 

present.

In  2016,  four  of  our  units  were  granted  the  ISO  14001:  2004.  These 

certifications,  together  with  the  16  Clean  Industry  certifications  and 

6  Environmental  Quality  certifications,  are  the  result  of  the  efforts  of  all 

our  employees  and  a  comprehensive  application  of  our  environmental 

practices.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 IN HARMONY WITH THE ENVIRONMENT IN DETAIL

1. Responsible use of water and natural resources

2. Prevention, control and reduction of air emissions

3. Efficient use of energy

4. Reduction of GHG emissions per ton produced

26

5. Reduction in waste generation and integrated management

6. Mine closure

7. Biodiversity conservation

8. Reforestation

9. Compliance with environmental regulations

ENVIROMENTAL EXPENDITURES 
(MILLION DOLLAR)

Air

Ground

Waste

Biodiversity

Management

Water

Total 

SCC

$     97.26

$     93.99

$     40.35

$       3.86

$       7.46

$     14.88

$   257.80

COMMUNITY OUTREACH27

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

At SCC we are aware of the effects of climate change and its impact on our operations, 

so,  by  anticipating  an  increase  in  the  probability  of  occurrence  of  extreme  weather 

events  such  as  hurricanes,  droughts,  floods  and  fires,  we  have  identified  potential 

risks from global warming. In addition to the risks arising from the increase in global 

temperature of the planet, we also face the impact of new environmental policies and 

regulations being adopted by governments of all countries.

Given these challenges, we are taking measures, which include:

• Using energy more efficiently.

• Diversifying our energy matrix.

• Developing and using renewable energy sources.

• Increasing the level of electric power self-sufficiency.

• Promoting efforts to capture greenhouse gases.

At SCC we have set a target to produce more with less, implementing energy efficiency 

initiatives  in  accordance  with  best  practices.  Therefore,  we  work  on  the  redesign, 

conversion  and  adaptation  of  equipment,  process  improvement  and  reorganization, 

and training our employees to optimize energy use, making strong investments in this 

regard.

Accordingly, we are diversifying our sources of generation of clean, renewable energy 

for  our  supply.  Our  operations  in  Mexico  have  decreased  their  indirect  greenhouse 

gas emissions by consuming clean energy supplied by SCC subsidiaries that generate 

electric power through its high efficient combined cycle and a wind farm. By replacing 

traditional  sources  of  energy  by  more  efficient  and  renewable  sources,  in  2016  we 

achieved a mitigation of 210,000 tons of CO2eq.

Simultaneously  with  our  environmental  policy,  we  continue  to  implement  actions  to 

maximize the generation of electricity by using our own energy sources. In the case 

of Mexico, we make use of the smelter gases for the heat recovery boiler to generate 

energy. In Peru, we generate energy from renewable sources, in particular from two 

hydroelectric plants with a combined capacity of 130 terajoules.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 Exterior view of the geodesic dome 

in Buenavista del Cobre. Its function 

is storing coarse ore and avoiding 

dispersion of dust to the environment.

In addition to generating and consuming energy from renewable sources 

and  cleaner  fuels,  we  have  also  implemented  the  best  practices  that 

28

have resulted in higher energy efficiency in our operations, including the 

improvement,  redesign,  conversion  and  retrofitting  of  equipment,  the 

rational use of resources, and the training of personnel to improve their 

performance during operations. 

In  the  last  three  years,  we  have  invested  more  than  $150  million  in 

our Peruvian mining complexes at Cuajone and Toquepala.  One of our 

projects of technological improvement in material transport systems will 

not  only  allow  us  to  reduce  operating  costs,  but  also  the  amount  of 

energy  consumed  and  the  intensity  of  emissions  per  ton  produced  of 

product.

Finally,  it  is  important  to  highlight  that  in  terms  of  climate  change 

SCC, along with Grupo México, have been working together with non-

governmental  organizations  to  contribute  in  the  fight  against  climate 

change.  Such  is  the  case  of  Grupo  Mexico’s  first  report  in  2016  to 

the Carbon Disclosure Project, through which we have developed and 

reported our inventory of greenhouse gases at SCC.

With these actions, and others, SCC confirms the commitment to reduce 

its carbon footprint, meet their implications and enhance our position as 

a  sustainable  global  company,  thereby  improving  our  competitiveness 

and contributing to shift towards an environmentally friendly economic 

development.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH29

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 30

Reforestation 

program in 

Mexico.

BIODIVERSITY

In our operating units we have forest nurseries and greenhouses whose production of species 

native to the region are used to reforest and rehabilitate ecosystems, including those areas 

not adjacent to our operations.

Our reforestation projects provide a double value to the environment. On the one hand, they 

contribute to biological biodiversity and enrichment of flora and fauna; on the other, they act 

as carbon sinks, trapping CO2 from the atmosphere. 

COMMUNITY OUTREACH31

As  part  of  our  conservation  efforts,  we  have  a  5.7  hectare  Environmental  Management 

Unit (EMU) that has been developed to replicate the wildlife environment of threatened and 

endangered species, including the Mexican Gray Wolf and the Turkey Gould, along with other 

species that are part of our program whose strategy focuses on breeding and release, as 

well as in the regeneration of their habitat.

The  EMU  is  a  clear  sign  of  how  we  involve  the  community  in  the  common  challenge  of 

protecting  our  environment,  particularly  biodiversity  of  Sonora.  This  is  extensible  to  the 

Ecological Path, where the EMU, along 1.8 kilometers, offers educational and recreational 

activities, being visited by about 5,000 people and an average of 52 schools per year. 

In the Peruvian region of Tacna, we continue to make significant environmental investments 

and conservation measures within the remediation program at the Ite Bay.  With an area of 

1,600 hectares, this successful program of contaminant removal has resulted in the largest 

and most diverse coastal waterfowl wetland in the country, and it has become also a tourist 

attraction that favors economic development.

WATER MANAGEMENT

For our mining operations, water is the most important input, and in order to ensure the 

sustainability of the resource in areas where we operate, we develop projects to get the 

greater efficiency in their use, promote reuse and use water discharged by third parties.

The efficient use of water and savings programs are based on the implementation of pumping 

systems to recover water, continuous water recovery from tailings and thickener processes, 

implementation and maintenance of closed circuits to use the total volume of process water, 

and Implementation of the Zero Wastewater Discharge Program, looking for a more efficient 

management of water resource. 

These programs have enabled us to obtain a large proportion of our total water consumption 

from reclaimed water. In 2016, 71% of total water consumption at our mining operations 

was reclaimed water, minimizing consumption and demand for fresh water. 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 WITH PROJECTS BY CALL, NAMED 
AS SEED CAPITAL, AND COMMUNITY 
COMMITTEES, WE ENCOURAGED 
THE FORMATION  OF DEVELOPMENT 
GENERATORS AND PROACTIVE 
LEADERS THAT STRENGTHEN THE  
WELL-BEING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. 

From community dialogues, where local people are involved, 

we identify the needs and expectations to prioritize working 

opportunities, which are channeled through the Casa Grande 

model.  This  model  consists  of  own  company  initiatives 

materialized through our team of experts, volunteers from 

the  Company,  the  community,  and  community  centers 

created  as  a  meeting  point,  coexistence  and  building  of 

shared value.

In some of our units, we make use of municipal wastewater 

treatment utilities, as is the case of our operations in San 

In  2016,  we  highlight  the  participation  of  10,287 

32

Luis Potosi (Mexico), so that the availability of fresh water 

community volunteers who were key to increased social 

is largely for the local population.

capital  in  the  communities  in  which  we  operate.  With 

projects named as seed capital, and summer camps we 

In  SCC,  being  consistent  with  our  commitments,  we 

encouraged  the  formation  of  development  generators 

continue  to  carry  out  the  environmental  and  sanitary 

and  proactive  leaders  that  strengthen  the  well-being  in 

monitoring of the Sonora and Bacanuchi rivers to ensure 

their  communities. This  generates  a  dynamic  of  shared 

the stability of the ecosystem.

responsibility between the company, the society and the 

environment.

OUR COMMUNITIES

In  addition,  calls  in  order  to  encourage  community 

organizations  to  submit  their  own  initiatives  are  made. 

Our  model  of  community  development  starts  with  an 

In  2016,  education  and  environment  were  established 

approach whose main objective is to contribute to generate 

as key themes of work, as well as health and safety and 

internal processes of transformation to create opportunities 

productive development as complementary subjects. Also, 

in these communities. This model is implemented through 

for  SCC,  children  and  youth  are  a  priority,  because  we 

different  tools,  including,  community  committees,  Casa 

know  that  giving  them  special  attention,  we  go  beyond 

Grande,  social  investment  fund,  calls  for  projects  and 

the  generations  that  will  set  the  standard  in  the  future. 

corporate volunteer.

The  projects  presented  in  these  calls  are  evaluated  by 

community committees, mixed composed groups in which 

We  understand  social  welfare  as  the  synergy  of  different 

both,  SCC  and  the  community,  participate,  promoting 

factors that we aim to strengthen through a multi-strategy, in 

dialogue and citizen participation.

close dialogue with communities. Therefore we strengthen 

health, education, culture and sports in each location where 

During  2016,  there  were  108  active  projects  in  the 

we operate.

16  operational  and  exploration  areas  in  Mexico.  These 

COMMUNITY OUTREACHThe program 

Casa Grande of 

Southern Copper 

provides training 

workshops to 

33

young volunteers 

of communities 

next to its 

operations.

INVESTING IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 
(Dollars)

  PROGRAM

  Community development

SCC

  Community development programs social linking 

$      9,659,918

  Sponsorships and donations

$      5,789,581

  Infrastructure and equipment in neighboring communities

$   22,190,200

  Employees and communities   Investment in Education

  Sport and cultural programs

  Investment in town site infrastructure

  Total

$      1,684,643

$      1,045,327

$   13,868,900

$    54,238,569

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016  
Casa Grande 

also supports the 

promotion of sport 

among children of 

the close schools.

34

COMMUNITY OUTREACHIN SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION WE 
ARE COMMITTED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES. 
THEREFORE, WOMEN AND MEN ARE IN THE 
CENTER OF OUR ACTIONS TO PROMOTE 
DEVELOPMENT WITH A PURPOSE.

projects, by call, promote the installation of capacities, and allow us to build 

our long-term vision and the construction of strategic alliances to strengthen 

each  of  the  communities  in  which  we  are  present. An  example  of  this  can 

35

be  the  improvement  of  educational  environments  and  the  construction  of 

infrastructure in San Martín, in Zacatecas, or the call “Participate for Cananea”, 

in Buenavista del Cobre.

In Peru, our commitment to the community focused in three areas: education 

and capacity building, health and nourishment, and infrastructure and support 

for the farming industry.

Our operations are located in an area where water is a key resource because it is 

a region where agriculture and livestock are fundamental parts of the economic 

dynamic.  In this sense, at SCC we seek to deepen the development and self-

management capacities of the communities,  and for this we contribute to the 

expansion of water supply infrastructure and projects of irrigation modernization 

in our neighboring communities in Moquegua and Tacna. An example of this 

is the work during 2016 for the improvement of the irrigation infrastructure in 

Torata,  in  the  department  of  Moquegua. The  work  included  improvement  of 

water  reservoirs,  installation  of  pipelines,  construction  of  support  walls,  and 

other maintenance work on the water infrastructure.

Supporting women’s entrepreneurial programs is also one of our program 

goals,  thereby  creating  opportunities  for  professional  development  and 

contributing to strengthen the economy of families. In the Peruvian province 

of Mariscal Nieto the program of the “Women Entrepreneur of Torata” has 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 Workers and trucks in  

La Caridad Mine, 

Sonora, Mexico.

36

COMMUNITY OUTREACHbecome a success case, resulting in the formation of the company Frutylac SAC. 

The  women  entrepreneurs  of  this  program  are  dedicated  to  the  elaboration  of 

canned goods, regional breads and other local products. To expand their horizons, 

the  women  of  this  successful  program  participated  in  the  International  Fair  of 

Tacna FERITAC 2016, exhibiting their achievements and promoting their products 

of Torata.

Also, we continued with the Forging Future Program aimed at the training and 

job inclusion of people living in the communities close to our operations, which 

seeks to improve the employability conditions of the young population in our areas 

of influence. Since its creation in 2013, 395 young people have been trained in 

37

different technical occupations.

Similarly, we are working on the implementation of public infrastructure for the 

community, and was the first contributor to the Consortium of Companies with 

Major Investment Commitment, effort awarded in 2016 by the private investment 

promotion  agency,  Proinversion.  In  addition,  in  collaboration  with  the  various 

governmental entities in Peru, we seek to develop projects that deliver high social 

performance and contribute prominently to the development of the regions where 

we operate.

At  Southern  Copper  Corporation  we  will  keep  our  commitment  to  continually 

improve the quality of life of the communities where we operate, by encouraging 

community integration structures and collective involvement, which will result in 

the common good and make people the key agents of development.

.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 38

Progress in the Toquepala Concentrator 
Expansion, Tacna, Peru.

39

Results of 
Operations

IN 2016, COPPER PRODUCTION REACHED A NEW HISTORICAL 
RECORD OF 1,054,414 TONS, WHICH IT MEANS AN INCREASE 
OF 16% COMPARED TO 2015. THE INCREASE IN LOW-COST 
PRODUCTION NOT ONLY IMPACTS ON OUR VOLUMES, BUT ALSO HAS 
A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR COST STRUCTURE, STRENGTHENING OUR 
PRIVILEGED POSITION AS LOW COST PRODUCERS. 

40

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016, 2015 

AND 2014.

Wire rod. Nacozari 

Metallurgical Complex,   

Our net income attributable to SCC in 2016 was $ 776.5 million 

or  diluted  earnings  per  share  of  $1.00,  compared  with  net 

Sonora, Mexico.

income attributable to SCC of $736.4 million or diluted earnings 

per share of $0.93 in 2015, and net income attributable to SCC 

of $1,333.0 million or diluted earnings per share of $ 1.61 in 

2014.

WE ARE THE 
LEADING COMPANY 
IN COSTS OF THE 
INDUSTRY WITH AN 
EXTRACTION COST 
OF  US $ 1.08 PER 
POUND OF COPPER. 

The  Company  presents  its  operating  costs  both  including  and 

excluding  the  revenues  of  its  byproducts  (molybdenum,  silver, 

sulfuric  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.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONSThe Company’s operating cash cost, as previously defined, for the three years 

ended December 31, is as follows:

2016

2015

2014

(dollar per pound)

Operating Cash Cost without by-product revenues

1.45

1.65

1.89

Operating Cash Cost with by-product revenues

0.95

1.11

1.07

41

As seen on the chart above, our 2016 operating cash cost per pound of copper 

without  by-product  revenues  was  $0.20  per  pound  lower  than  in  2015,  a 

decrease of 12.1%. This was due to lower costs per pound from production 

costs,  as  a  result  of  higher  production  at  a  lower  per-unit  cost  from  the 

Buenavista projects, lower fuel costs and lower costs per pound from selling, 

general and administrative expenses and inventory change, partially offset by 

higher treatment and refining charges and premiums.

Net Sales: 2016-2015: Net sales in 2016 were $5,379.8 million, compared to 

$5,045.9 million in 2015, an increase of $333.9 million or 6.6%. The increase 

was principally the result of higher sales volume of copper (+18.3%) and silver 

(+18.9%), partially offset by lower prices for copper and molybdenum.

2015-2014: Net sales in 2015 were $5,045.9 million, compared to $5,787.7 

million in 2014, a decrease of $741.8 million or 12.8%. The decrease was 

principally  the  result  of  lower  metal  prices,  partially  offset  by  an  increase 

in  copper  and  zinc  sales  volumes,  which  increased  12.3%  and  10.3%, 

respectively.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 42

Smelter, Ilo, Moquegua, 

Peru.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS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

2016

2015

2014

Average metal prices

Copper (per pound - LME)

Copper (per pound - COMEX)

Molybdenum (per pound)

Zinc (per pound - LME)

Silver (per ounce - COMEX)

Sales Volume (in thousands)

$   2.21

$   2.20

$   6.42

$   0.95

$ 17.10

$   2.50

$   2.51

$   6.59

$   0.88

$ 15.68

Copper (pounds)

1,923.9

1,625.8

Molybdenum (pounds) (1)

Zinc (pounds)

Silver (ounces)

47.9

232.4

17.2

51.2

222.2

14.5

$   3.11

$   3.12

$ 11.30

$   0.98

$ 19.04

1,448.0

     51.0

   201.5

     14.6

(1)The  Company´s  molybdenum  production  is  sold  in  the  form  of  concentrates. Volume  represents 

pounds of molybdenum contained in concentrates..

43

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 Suches lake, 

Tacna, Peru.

44

Environmental 
matters

45

WE WORK HARD TO KEEP OUR STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN OUR 
COMPANY AND MAKE THEM PARTICIPANTS IN MANAGEMENT AND 
KEEP THEM INFORMED OF OUR PERFORMANCE ALWAYS TAKING INTO 
ACCOUNT THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 Blue Garcita, 

Ite Wetlands, 

Tacna, Peru.

46

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 others, water recovery systems to conserve water and minimize the 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 2016, 2015 and 2014, were as follows 

(in millions):

Mexican operations

Peruvian operations

Total

2016

$  140.1

$  110.3

$  250.4

2015

$   22.0

$   98.8

$ 120.8

2014

$    24.4

$  127.8

$  152.2

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERSMEXICAN OPERATIONS 

The  Company’s  operations  are  subject  to  applicable 

financial  services  and  economic  competition  issues 

Mexican  federal,  state  and  municipal  environmental 

will be considered to be sufficient in order to have a 

laws, to Mexican official standards, and to regulations 

legitimate  interest  to  seek  through  a  civil  procedure 

for  the  protection  of  the  environment,  including 

restitution or economic compensation or suspension of 

regulations relating to water supply, water quality, air 

the activities from which the alleged injury derived. The 

quality, noise levels and hazardous and solid waste.

amendments to the CFPC may result in more litigation, 

with plaintiffs seeking remedies, including suspension 

The  principal  legislation  applicable  to  the  Company’s 

of the activities alleged to cause harm.

Mexican  operations  is  the  Federal  General  Law  of 

47

Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection (the 

In 2013, the Environmental Liability Federal Law was 

‘‘General  Law’’),  which  is  enforced  by  the  Federal 

enacted.  The  law  establishes  general  guidelines  for 

Bureau  of  Environmental  Protection  (‘‘PROFEPA’’). 

actions to be considered to likely cause environmental 

PROFEPA  monitors  compliance  with  environmental 

harm.  If  a  possible  determination  regarding  harm 

legislation and enforces Mexican environmental laws, 

occurs, environmental clean-up and remedial actions 

regulations and official standards. It may also initiate 

sufficient  to  restore  environment  to  a  pre-existing 

administrative  proceedings  against  companies  that 

condition should be taken. Under this law, if restoration 

violate environmental laws, which in the most extreme 

is  not  possible,  compensation  measures  should  be 

cases  may  result  in  the  temporary  or  permanent 

provided.  Criminal  penalties  and  monetary  fines  can 

shutdown  of  non-complying  facilities,  the  revocation 

be assessed under this law.

of operating licenses and/or other sanctions or fines.

On August 6, 2014, an accidental spill of approximately 

In  2011,  the  General  Law  was  amended,  giving  an 

40,000 cubic meters of copper sulfate solution occurred 

individual or entity the ability to contest administrative 

at  a  leaching  pond  that  was  under  construction  ten 

acts, including environmental authorizations, permits or 

kilometers  from  the  mine  of  Buenavista  del  Cobre, 

concessions granted, without the need to demonstrate 

S.A. de C.V. (‘‘BVC’’) a subsidiary of the Company. The 

the  actual  existence  of  harm  to  the  environment  as 

accident was caused by a rock collapse that affected 

long as it can be argued that the harm may be caused. 

the  system’s  pumping  station  and  by  a  construction 

In addition, in 2011, amendments to the Civil Federal 

defect  in  the  seal  of  a  pipe  in  the  leaching  system 

Procedures  Code  (‘‘CFPC’’)  were  enacted.  These 

containment  dam,  a  part  of  the  new  SX-EW  III  plant. 

amendments  establish  three  categories  of  collective 

This  solution  reached  the  Bacanuchi  River  and  the 

actions by means of which 30 or more people claiming 

Sonora  River.  Immediate  actions  were  taken  in  order 

injury derived from environmental, consumer protection, 

to  contain  the  spill,  and  to  comply  with  all  the  legal 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 requirements. In August 2014, the Company hired contractors including environmental 

specialists and more than 1,200 of its own workers to clean the river.

In  addition,  the  Company  developed  a  service  program  to  assist  the  residents  of  the 

Sonora River region, which included (i) water distribution provisions, and infrastructure 

development  within  the  affected  region,  (ii)  the  expansion  of  the  current  Community 

Development  program  to  communities  further  downstream  that  were  affected  and 

previously  not  within  the  scope  of  the  Company´s  program,  (iii)  meetings  with  local 

farmers and producers in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, 

Rural Development, Fisheries, and Nutrition in order to revamp and promote the activities 

48

of local farmers and producers, (iv) the implementation of sustainable productive projects 

at each affected site, as well as (v) the establishment of service desks to address specific 

complaints and concerns of the community.

The National Water Commission, the Federal Commission for the Protection of Sanitary 

Risk and PROFEPA initiated administrative proceedings regarding the spill to determine 

possible environmental and health damages. On August 19, 2014, PROFEPA, as part of 

the administrative proceeding initiated after the spill, announced the filing of a criminal 

complaint  against  BVC  in  order  to  determine  those  responsible  for  the  environmental 

damages.  The  Company  is  vigorously  defending  itself  against  this  complaint.  As  of 

December 31, 2016, the case remains in the procedural stages and is pending resolution.

On  September  15,  2014,  BVC  executed  an  administrative  agreement  with  PROFEPA, 

providing  for  the  submission  of  a  remediation  action  plan  to  the  Mexican  Ministry  of 

Environment and Natural Resources (Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales 

‘‘SEMARNAT’’). The general remediation program submitted to SEMARNAT was approved 

on January 6, 2015. This program is being developed in five different zones all of which 

have obtained approval from SEMARNAT. The Company is complying with the remedial 

program.

The Company also created a trust with Nacional Financiera S.N.C., a Mexican development 

bank, acting as a Trustee to support environmental remedial actions in connection with 

the  spill,  to  comply  with  the  remedial  action  plan  and  to  compensate  those  persons 

adversely affected by the spill. The Company committed up to two billion Mexican pesos 

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS49

By participating 

in initiatives for 

transparency on 

climate change, 

we consolidate 

in our role as 

sustainability 

leaders.

(approximately  $150  million)  of  which  approximately  one  billion  Mexican  pesos 

have already been contributed. A technical committee for the trust was created with 

representatives from the federal government, the Company and specialists assisted 

by a team of environmental experts to ensure the proper use of the funds. Along 

with the administrative agreement executed with PROFEPA, the trust serves as an 

alternative mechanism for dispute resolution to mitigate public and private litigation 

risks.

As a result of the administrative proceeding, conducted by PROFEPA, on March 2, 

2015 a final ruling imposed a fine of $1.7 million.

Through  the  first  half  of  2015,  six  collective  action  lawsuits  were  filed  in  federal 

courts in Mexico City and Sonora against two subsidiaries of the Company seeking 

economic  compensation,  clean  up  and  remedial  activities  in  order  to  restore  the 

environment to its pre-existing conditions. Four of the collective action lawsuits have 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 Participants of the 

program “Women 

Entrepreneur of Torata”, 

Torata, Moquegua, Peru

50

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERSSOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION 
MEANS PRODUCTION, PROGRESS, 
DEVELOPMENT AND GENERATION 
OF WELL-BEING FOR THOUSANDS 
OF PEOPLE.

been dismissed by the court. 

The  plaintiffs  in  these  six  lawsuits  are: Acciones  Colectivas  de  Sinaloa, 

A.C. which established two collective actions (one of which was dismissed 

51

on  September  26,  2016);  Filiberto  Navarro  Soto  et  al  (dismissed  on 

July 14, 2015); Defensa  Colectiva A.C.  (dismissed on August 7, 2015); 

Ismael  Navarro  Babuca  et  al  (dismissed  on August  17,  2015);  and Ana 

Luisa  Salazar  Medina  et  al.  which  has  been  granted  a  collective  action 

certification and the plaintiffs have requested cautionary measures on the 

construction of facilities for the monitoring of public health services and 

the prohibition of the closure of the Rio Sonora Trust.

For a description of the regulations related to collective actions in Mexico, 

please refer to the 2011 amendments to the CFPC described above.

Similarly, during 2015, eight civil action lawsuits were filed against BVC 

in the state courts of Sonora seeking damages for alleged injuries and for 

moral damages as a consequence of the spill. The plaintiffs in the state 

court lawsuits are: Jose Vicente Arriola Nunez et al; Santana Ruiz Molina 

et al; Andres Nogales Romero et al; Teodoro Javier Robles et al; Gildardo 

Vasquez Carvajal et al; Rafael Noriega Souffle et al; Grupo Banamichi Unido 

de Sonora El Dorado, S.C. de R.L. de C.V; and Marcelino Mercado Cruz. 

In the first quarter of 2016, one additional civil action lawsuit, claiming 

the same damages, was filed by Juan Melquicedec Lebaron. Additionally, 

during  the  second  half  of  2016,  two  additional  civil  action  lawsuits, 

claiming the same damages, were filed by Blanca Lidia Valenzuela Rivera 

et al and Ramona Franco Quijada et al.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 View from the new HPGR plant in the 

Toquepala Concentrator, Tacna, Peru.

52

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERSDuring  2015,  four  constitutional  lawsuits  (juicios  de  amparo)  were  filed 

before Federal Courts against various authorities and against a subsidiary 

of  the  Company,  arguing;  (i)  the  alleged  lack  of  a  waste  management 

program  approved  by  SEMARNAT;  (ii)  the  alleged  lack  of  a  remediation 

53

plan approved by SEMARNAT with regard to the August 2014 spill; (iii) the 

alleged lack of community approval regarding the environmental impact 

authorizations granted by SEMARNAT to one subsidiary of the Company; 

and  (iv)  the  alleged  inactivity  of  the  authorities  with  regard  of  the  spill 

in  August  2014.  The  plaintiffs  of  those  lawsuits  are:  Francisca  Garcia 

Enriquez, et al which established two lawsuits, Francisco Ramon Miranda, 

et al and Jesus David Lopez Peralta et al. 

In the first quarter of 2016, an additional constitutional lawsuit, claiming 

same  damages  was  filed  by  Oscar  Encinas  Gamez  et  al  (dismissed  in 

December, 2016); and during the third quarter of 2016, three additional 

constitutional lawsuits, claiming same damages were filed by Maria Elena 

Heredia Bustamante et al; Martin Eligio Ortiz Gamez et al; and Maria de 

los Angeles Enriquez Bacame et al.

It is currently not possible to determine the extent of the damages sought 

in  these  state  and  federal  lawsuits  but  the  Company  considers  that 

these lawsuits are without merit. Accordingly, the Company is vigorously 

defending  against  these  actions.  Nevertheless,  the  Company  considers 

that none of the legal proceedings resulting from the spill, individually or 

in the aggregate, would have a material effect on its financial position or 

results of operations.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 Reforestation 

programs, Mexico.

As  of  December  31,  2016,  BVC  estimated  total 

damages at $136.4 million, of which $42.5 million was 

paid with the Company’s funds, and approximately one 

billion  Mexican  pesos  (approximately  $74.9  million) 

54

was  deposited  in  the  trust.  These  funds  have  been 

available  and  are  being  used  to  compensate  claims 

as they arise. This deposit was classified as restricted 

cash and was recorded as an operating expense in the 

Company’s results.

On  December  1,  2016,  SEMARNAT  issued  its  final 

resolution  which  established  that  all  remediation 

actions contained in the Remediation Plan, as approved 

by the same authority, have been fully complied with 

no pending obligations according to such Plan, except 

for biological monitoring activities at the Sonora river 

that will be continued until the first semester of 2019. 

Also,  on  January  26,  2017,  PROFEPA  issued  its 

final  resolution  under  which  it  declared  all  mitigation 

actions as complete and its investigation procedure is 

definitely  closed.  In  light  of  the  above,  the  Company 

has  obtained  all  necessary  formal  decisions  from 

SEMARNAT and PROFEPA. On February 7, 2017, the 

Company proceeded to close the trust created with the 

purpose  of  complying  with  all  remediation  activities. 

Therefore, this matter is closed.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS55

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 56

PERUVIAN OPERATIONS

The Company’s operations are subject to applicable Peruvian environmental laws and regulations. 

The Peruvian government, through the Ministry of Environment (‘‘MINAM’’) conducts annual audits 

of  the  Company’s  Peruvian  mining  and  metallurgical  operations.  Through  these  environmental 

audits, matters related to environmental obligation, compliance with legal requirements, atmospheric 

emissions, effluent monitoring and waste management 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  assurances  for  future  mine 

closure  and  remediation.  In  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  this  law,  the  Company’s  closure 

plans were approved by MINEM. 

See Note 10 ‘‘Asset retirement obligation,’’ for further discussion of this matter. In accordance with 

the requirements of the law, in 2015, the Company submitted the closure plans for the Tia Maria 

project and for the Toquepala expansion. The process of review and approval of closure plans usually 

takes several months. In March 2016, MINEM approved the Mining Closure Plan for the Toquepala 

expansion project. The closure plan for the Tia Maria project is pending approval.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERSMining operation 

in Peru.

57

In  2008,  the  Peruvian  government  enacted  environmental  regulations  establishing 

more stringent air quality standards (‘‘AQS’’) for daily sulfur dioxide (‘‘SO2’’) in the air 

for the Peruvian territory. These regulations, as amended in 2013, recognize distinct 

zones/areas, as atmospheric basins. 

MINAM  has  established  three  atmospheric  basins  that  require  further  attention  to 

comply with the air quality standards. The Ilo basin is one of these three areas and the 

Company’s smelter and refinery are part of the area. A supreme decree issued on April 

8, 2014, indicates that mining companies should review their compliance with these 

regulations  and develop  a  modification  plan to reach compliance. At December 31, 

2016, the Company continues to work with an environmental technical study group, 

established by a MINAM resolution to identify activities, goals, deadlines, timetables 

and to develop an action plan in order to achieve compliance with AQS.

While  the  Company  believes  that  a  potential  loss  contingency  may  exist,  it  cannot 

currently  estimate  the  amount  of  such  contingency.  The  Company  and  other 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 industries affected by this supreme decree believe that 

the  lack  of  further  regulations  and  direction  from  the 

government  has  delayed  the  full  review  and  analysis 

of  the  necessary  actions  to  establish  compliance. 

Pending  further  government  action,  the  Company  will 

continue  to  work  with  its  study  group  to  analyze  this 

issue.  Furthermore,  the  Company  does  not  believe  it 

can estimate a reasonable range of possible costs until 

176 INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED 
THE EVENT, WHICH REPLICATED  
LEARNING IN THEIR 
ORGANIZATIONS AND IN THEIR 
SOCIAL PROGRAMS. 

additional  guidance  is  received  from  the  government. 

within 24 months after being notified by the authority. 

Therefore, currently the Company is not able to disclose 

This SDP shall include remediation actions, a schedule 

58

a range of costs that is meaningful.

and  compliance  deadlines.  Also  under  this  rule,  if 

In  2013,  the  Peruvian  government  enacted  new  soil 

the Company may request a one year extension for the 

deemed  necessary  and  given  reasonable  justification, 

environmental  quality  standards  (‘‘SQS’’)  applicable 

decontamination plan.

to  any  existing  facility  or  project  that  generates  or 

could  generate  risk  of  soil  contamination  in  its  area 

Soil  confirmation  tests  must  be  carried  out  after 

of  operation  or  influence.  In  March  2014,  MINAM 

completion  of  decontamination  actions  (within  the 

issued a supreme decree, which establishes additional 

approved  schedule)  and  results  must  be  presented 

provisions for the gradual implementation of SQS. Under 

to  authorities  within  30  days  after  receiving  such 

this  rule  the  Company  had  twelve  months  to  identify 

results.  Non-compliance  with  this  obligation  or  with 

contaminated  sites  in  and  around  its  facilities  and 

decontamination goals will carry penalties, although no 

present  a  report  of  identified  contaminated  sites. This 

specific  sanctions  have  been  established  yet.  During 

report  was  submitted  to  MINEM  in April  2015. After  a 

compliance  with  this  schedule,  companies  cannot  be 

review,  MINEM  should  evaluate  and  issue  a  report  to 

penalized for non-compliance with the SQS.

the Company, which will allow it to continue to the next 

phase. At December 31, 2016, the Company is awaiting 

While the Company believes that there is a reasonable 

an official response from MINEM. Once MINEM notifies 

possibility that a potential loss contingency may exist, it 

the Company, it must prepare a characterization study 

cannot currently estimate the amount of the contingency. 

to  determine  the  depth,  extent  and  physio-chemical 

The Company believes that a reasonable determination 

composition  of  the  contaminated  areas  and  to  define 

of  the  loss  will  be  possible  once  the  characterization 

an appropriate remediation plan and the time-frame in 

study and the SDP are substantially completed. At that 

which it will take place. In addition, the Company must 

time the Company will be in a position to estimate the 

submit for approval a Soil Decontamination Plan (SDP) 

remediation cost. Further, the Company does not believe 

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERSSupport for 

education, 

Ilo,Moquegua.

59

that it can estimate a reasonable range of possible costs until the noted studies 

have substantially progressed and therefore is not be able to disclose a range of 

costs that is meaningful. 

The Company believes that all of its facilities in Peru and Mexico are in material 

compliance with applicable environmental, mining and other laws and regulations.

The Company also believes that continued compliance with environmental laws 

of  Mexico  and  Peru  will  not  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company’s 

business, properties, result of operations, financial condition or prospects and will 

not result in material capital investments.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 60

Port maneuvers
at the SPCC Pier,
Ilo, Moquegua - Peru.

61

GENERAL 
INFORMATION

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.

Panoramic view, 

Cuajone Mine, 

Moquegua - Peru.

62

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 in Chile, Ecuador and Argentina. 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 

GENERAL INFORMATION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 in 2005. Minera Mexico engages principally in the 

63

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.

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  SX/EW  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 2012. 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.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 ECONOMIC GROUP

SCC,  indirectly,  is  part  of “Grupo  Mexico  S.A.B.  de  C.V.”  which  owns  100%  of Americas 

Mining Corporation (“AMC”).

64

Name 
of the 
company

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Several Activities

Grupo Mexico, S.A.B. de C. V.

        Grupo Mexico Servicios, S.A. de C.V.

ACTIVIDADES DE TRANSPORTE FERROVIARIO

Inscription 
in the 
RPMV

Location

Mexico

Mexico

         Infraestructura y Transportes Mexico, S.A. de C. V.

Mexico

MINING ACTIVITIES

         Americas Mining Corporation (“AMC”)

               Southern Copper Corporation (SCC)

                          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.

USA

USA

Mexico

Mexico

Mexico

Mexico

                    Southern Peru Copper Corporation, Agencia en Chile

Chile

%

100

100

100

88.91

99.96

99.99

100

98.18

100

                    Southern Peru Copper Corporation, Sucursal del Peru

                    Compañia Minera Los Tolmos, S.A.

Peru

Peru

ü

99.291

97.31

Corporate Capital and Common Stock 

Shares

The authorized number of shares

Issues an Paid Capital: Common Shares

2,000,000,000

884,596,086

Nominal Value of Common Shares

$ 

0.01

Total number and percent of shares

Shares

Interest

Americas Mining Corporation

Common Shares

Total

687,275,997 

88,666,273 

775,942,270 

88.91%

11.09%

100.0%

1Include 82.69% of common shares and 16.60% of investment shares.

GENERAL INFORMATION 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mining operations 

in Sonora, 

Mexico.

65

OPERATIONS IN MEXICO

LA CARIDAD MINE

“La Caridad Concentrator” began operations in 1979.  The concentrator has a current 

capacity of 94,500 tons of ore 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” has an annual production capacity of 21,900 tons of copper 

cathodes. Approximately 790.6 million tons of leaching ore with an average grade 

of approximately 0.25312% copper have been extracted from the La Caridad open-

pit mine and deposited in leaching dumps from May 1995 to December 31, 2016.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 66

Drilling machine 

operator in 

Cuajone Mine, 

Moquegua, Peru.

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. The 

actual installed capacity of the smelter is 1,000,000 tons per year.

“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. The installed capacity of the refinery is 300,000 tons per year.

“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”, a rod plant at the La Caridad complex began operations 

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%.

GENERAL INFORMATIONEffluent and Dust Treatment Plant, a dust and effluent plant with a treatment capacity 

of 5,000 tons of smelter dusts per year which will produce 1,500 tons of copper 

by-products and 2,500 tons of lead sulfates per year. This plant started its operating 

in 2012.

BUENAVISTA MINE

“Buenavista Concentrator”, the original concentrator currently has a nominal milling 

capacity of 76,700 tons per day. The second concentrator began operations in 2015 

with a nominal milling capacity of 100,000 tons per day.

“Buenavista SX/EW I Plant” started operating in 1980, with a capacity of 30 tons 

67

per day.

“Buenavista SX/EW II Plant” started operating in 1989, with a capacity of 66 tons per 

day and was expanded to 120 tons per day in 2001.

“Buenavista  SX/EW  III  Plant”  started  operating  during  the  fourth  quarter  of  2014, 

we completed the construction of a new SX-EW plant that will significantly increase 

production  of  leachable  material  by  approximately  120,000  tons  per  year.  The  

SX-EW facilities have a cathode production capacity of 174,470 tons per year.

UNDERGROUND MINES

1.- The Santa Barbara Unit with a milling capacity of 5,800 tons of ore per day.

2.- The Santa Eulalia Unit with a milling capacity of 1,450 tons of ore per day.

3.- The San Martin Unit with a milling capacity of 4,400 tons of ore per day.

4.- The Charcas Unit with a milling capacity of 4,100 tons of ore per day. In 2016, 

operations  took  place  normally  and  a  production  compliance  of  97%  was 

reached.

5.- The Taxco Unit with a milling capacity of 2,000 tons per day.

6.- Coquizadora Coal Plant, in Coahuila Unit, with a capacity of 105,000 tons of coke 

per year.

7.- The Zinc Refinery with a capacity of 288 tons per day.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 SOUTHERN COPPER OPERATES 
OPEN PIT MINES AS WELL AS 
UNDERGROUND MINES, WHICH 
GIVE US GREAT EXPERIENCE 
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
PROJECTS. 

PERUVIAN OPERATIONS

TOQUEPALA

68

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 MT per 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  resolution  granted  60  hectares  of  surface  land  and 

authorized a throughput of 11,850 tons/day.

Based on Report No. 660-98-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.

GENERAL INFORMATIONBuenavista del Cobre 

Mine, Sonora, Mexico.

69

INFORME ANUAL / 2016 INFORME ANUAL / 2016 Grinding area, 

Cuajone concentrator, 

Moquegua, Peru.

70

CUAJONE

1.-  Botiflaca Concentrator 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 

MT per 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 MT per day throughput.

For operating reasons as part of the crusher process optimization, on November 8, 

2012, we requested to the Peruvian authorities through resources N° 214491 to 

add three additional facilities (HPGR mill and others).

GENERAL INFORMATION 
71

With  Directoral  Resolution  N°  153-2012-MEM-DGM-V  based  on  report  165-2012-MEM-

DGM-DTM-PB.  MEM  approved  and  authorized  the  project  to  include  three  additional  facilities 

aforementioned on the procedure of the amendment and increase of the installed capacity from 

87,000 to 90,000 MT per day.

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 MT per 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 MT per day.

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.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 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 MT per 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  MT  per 

day, which is included as an ancillary facility to Acid Plant No. 2, with a 

capacity of 2,880 MT per day or 1,051,200 MT per year.

2.-  Ilo  Refinery.  Authorized  by  Report  No.  056-94-EM/DGM/DRDM  dated 

72

May 27, 1994 the “Director General de Mineria” authorized the operation 

of the Ilo Copper Refinery at 533 MT per 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 MT per 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 MT per 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.

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 per 

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 per year production.

GENERAL INFORMATION73

Aerial view Ilo 

Operations, 

Moquegua, 

Peru.

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,  2012,  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.

INFORME ANUAL / 2016 INFORME ANUAL / 2016 Copper cathodes 

“Grade A “

obtained from the 

leaching process.

74

DESCRIPTION  OF  OPERATIONS  AND  DEVELOPMENT 
REGARDING THE ISSUING ENTITY PURPOSE

THE 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, 

GENERAL INFORMATION75

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.  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 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 Copper Corporation shares, and at performing an exchange of the shares that 

were then called “Labor Shares” (today Investment Shares) issued by the branch 

76

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).

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.

GENERAL INFORMATION77

La Caridad Metallurgical Complex, 

Sonora, Mexico.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 78

Spreading system 

for leachable ore.

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  States  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 (“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 Minera Mexico, SCC issued 67,207,640 shares 

in exchange for MM shares. Once the shares related to the acquisition were issued, AMC increased 

its share in SCC from 54.2% to approximately 75.1%.

GENERAL INFORMATIONAMC 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,  our  BOD  authorized  a  $500  million  share  repurchase  program  that  has 

since been increased by the BOD and is currently authorized to $3 billion. Since the 

inception of the program through December 31, 2016, we have purchased 119.5 

79

million  shares  of  our  common  stock  at  a  cost  of  $2.9  billion.  These  shares  are 

available for general corporate purposes. We may purchase additional shares of our 

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.

At December 31, 2016, Grupo Mexico indirect ownership is 88.9%.

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.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 80

SCC produces LME 

Copper Cathodes 

Grade A.

The minimum 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 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.

GENERAL INFORMATION81

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 

minimum 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 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 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 

82

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:

The  Company  has  entered  into  certain  transactions  in  the  ordinary 

course  of  business  with  parties  that  are  controlling  shareholders  or 

their  affiliates. These  transactions  include  the  lease  of  office  space,  air 

transportation,  construction  services  and  products  and  services  related 

to  mining  and  refining.  The  Company  lends  and  borrows  funds  among 

affiliates  for  acquisitions  and  other  corporate  purposes. These  financial 

transactions bear interest and are subject to review and approval by senior 

management,  as  are  all  related  party  transactions.  It  is  the  Company’s 

policy that the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors shall review all 

related  party  transactions. The  Company  is  prohibited  from  entering  or 

continuing a material related party transaction that has not been reviewed 

and approved or ratified by the Audit Committee. 

GENERAL INFORMATIONCuajone Mine, 

Moquegua, 

Peru.

83

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 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 

operational 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,  and  its  exploration  activities  in  the  Republics  of 

Argentina and Ecuador.

84

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.

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 

GENERAL INFORMATION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 

85

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 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  bylaws;  (iii)  the 

amendments to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 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 votes that needed to be 

tabulated, the annual meeting for this proposal was adjourned first until 

86

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 88.9% of 

SCC shares.

INFORMATION ABOUT PLANS AND INVESTMENT POLICIES:

See Capital Expenditures and Exploration on page 17.

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 remained effective until the year 

2010 and guaranteed 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  remained  effective  during  ten  years 

and  guaranteed  the  availability  of  foreign  currencies,  free  remittance  of 

dividends to the exterior, among other guarantees related to the acid plant 

of the Ilo Smelter.

GENERAL INFORMATION87

Primary crusher 

control room, 

Toquepala Mine, 

Tacna,Peru.

SCC obtains refunds 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 

these refunds, SCC is entitled to credit the amount of the IGV against its Peruvian tax 

obligations or to receive a refund.

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.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 IN THE LAST 5 YEARS, THE MINING DIVI-
SION HAS REDUCED  ITS RATE OF ACCI-
DENTS BY 40% AND THE SEVERITY OF 
THEM BY 60%. 

Mining Royalty 

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. 

88

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%.

SAFETY AND HEALTH – SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION

In Southern Copper Corporation, caring for the life, health and integrity of our employees and 

their families is the number one priority in all our operations. No task is more important.

Accordingly, our main commitment is to create optimal and safe work environments for our 

employees, applying the highest safety and occupational health standards. Our goal: ZERO 

accidents.

An Integrated Occupational Health and Safety Management System allows us to implement 

effective  processes  and  provide  our  employees  knowledge  and  skills  necessary  for  the 

identification, control and mitigation of risks, prioritizing actions and the necessary care in 

preventing accidents.

In 2016 we maintained 12 units in Mexico and Peru whose Occupational Safety and Health 

Management  System  have  been  certified  according  to  OHSAS  18001:  2007. Additionally, 

in  Mexico  we  have  21  units  certified  with  the  Secretariat  of  Labour  and  Social Welfare  in 

Self-Managed Occupational Health and Safety (PASST), endorsing our commitment to best 

practices in health and safety at work.

MINING SAFETYTHE WELFARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES IS A TASK 
THAT CONCERNS EVERYONE. WE KNOW THAT 
TAKING CARE OF OUR TEAM PROVIDES PEACE OF 
MIND TO THEIR FAMILIES. 

Wire rod plant, Nacozari, Sonora, 

Mexico.

89

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 The accomplishments achieved in 2016 on occupational health and 

safety include:

•  The  Mining  Chamber  of  Mexico  (CAMIMEX)  again  awarded  the 

“Jorge  Rangel  Zamorano”  Silver  Helmet  Trophy  to  the  SX-EW 

plant of Mexicana de Cobre.  Also, the Lime Plant and the Santa 

Eulalia Unit received this trophy for achieving the lowest recorded 

accident  rates  in  the  industry,  as  for  their  efforts  in  the  field  of 

accident prevention.

90

•  In  Peru,  we  continue  enhancing  the  Safety  Based  on  Behavior-

Program,  hoping  for  the  first  results  that  will  allow  us  to  enrich 

the  prevention  culture  among  our  collaborators,  with  the  aim 

of  reinforcing  people’s  safe  behaviors  through  observation  and 

feedback during daily work.

•  In  Mexico  took  place  the  Sixth  Security  Cells  Forum,  where  our 

collaborators present projects to develop their activities in a safer 

and more productive way.

As a result of the work and commitment of our people to safety and 

health,  in  the  past  five  years  the  accident  rate  (IR)  decreased  by 

29% and the severity of them by 54%., showing that our activities to 

identify  and  address  risks  have  significantly  reduced  the  frequency 

and  severity  of  accidents  in  our  mining  operations.    Every  year  we 

seek to reinforce our risk identification and prevention strategy, which 

translates into actions aimed at improving our processes to take care 

of the physical integrity of our employees.

These results reflect the efforts in our culture of safety activities, the 

implementation  of  inspection  plans  and,  especially,  the  work  and 

commitment of our employees.

MINING SAFETY91

ACCIDENT RATE (IR)
SCC, 2012-2016

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

0.77

0.72

0.89

1.01

1.09

IR =

No.of disabling accidents 

No.of total men - hours worked 

x 200,000

SEVERITY RATE (SR)
SCC, 2012-2016

0.32

0.24

0.21

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

0.58

0.69

SR =

No.of days lost 

“No.of total men - hours worked” 

x 1,000

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 

Healthy  environments  are  part  of  the  organizational  culture  and  management 

system, as a responsibility of the Company that establishes a culture of involvement, 

participation  and  commitment  to  generate  better  health  conditions  that  lead  to 

improving the quality of life of our employees, their families and the communities in 

which we operate.

92

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE RATE
SCC 2012-2016

0.14

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

0.41

0.57

0.78

0.71

ODR =

No.of Cases of Occupational Diseases 

No.of Total men - hours worked 

x 200,000

Despite the increase in the rate of occupational diseases in the last year, over the 

past  five  years  we  have  reduced  our  rate  of  occupational  diseases  by  42%,  as  a 

result of the various programs on education, prevention and control of risks, as well 

as on treatment of diseases. These programs are offered to our employees and, in 

some  cases,  to  their  families,  contractors,  suppliers,  institutions  and  the  general 

public.

MINING SAFETYACTIVITIES: 

TARGETING WORKPLACE PERSONNEL 

TARGETING EMPLOYEES’ FAMILIES
AND COMMUNITY 

Security courses and conferences

Guided tours “Knowing my Company”

Expo safety

Health career

Internal Security Forum

Familiar contests to Promote values

93

Health Fair

Health Career

Firefighting courses

Familiar contests and parades

Awards to employees or  
Departments with ZERO ACCIDENTS

Health fair

INVESTMENT IN SAFETY AND HEALTH

During  2016,  we  invested  over  $100  million  in  occupational  safety  and  health, 

focusing efforts on engineering works, purchase of personal protective equipment, 

training, coaching, and industrial hygiene studies. In terms of occupational health, 

we have invested in the development, promotion and protection of health, as well as 

in primary prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 94

INVESTMENT IN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
(in millions) 

Management costs

Training

Personal protection equipment

Industrial hygiene studies

Engineering works

Total

SCC

1.86 

4.78 

7.21 

0.62 

82.76

97.23 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

INVESTMENT IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
(in millions) 

Development,  Promotion  and  Protecition  of 
Health

Detection and prevention

Treatment

Rehabilitation

Total

SCC

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

0.68 

2.00 

0.30 

0.03 

3.01 

OPERATIONS IN PERU 2016 

The safety and health results in 2016, for the open pit mining operations 

at the Toquepala and Cuajone mines, metallurgical operations at the 

Ilo Unit, which includes smelter and refinery plants, were as follows: 

Frequency  Index  1.9,  Severity  Index  157.4  and  Accidentability 

rate  0.3;  the  Frequency  Index  which  has  a  direct  relation  with  the 

MINING SAFETYnumber of accidents occurred improved in relation to the year 2015 (2.2) and the 

Accidentability Index remained the same (0.3), only increased the Severity Index due 

to an increase in the number days of breaks due to accidents. In 2016, as in 2015, 

there were no fatal accidents in the Company.

The Behavior-Based Safety (SBC) process was intensively worked in 2016 and has 

begun  to  improve  in  those  Divisions  that  have  frequently  had  several  accidents  in 

which they have begun to decline, good results are expected in the next two years.

EMPLOYEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31TH 

MEXICAN OPERATIONS

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

Total

8,762

8,316

8,105

8,182

7,975

95

PERUVIAN OPERATIONS

Total

ECUADOR OFFICE

Total

ARGENTINA OFFICE

Total

CHILE OFFICE

Total

CORPORATE OFFICE

Total

TOTAL EMPLOYEES IN SCC

Total Mexico

Total Peru

Total Ecuador

Total Argentina

Total Chile

Total Corporate Office

Total

4,562

4,602

4,524

4,430

4,566

47

20

20

3

52

26

26

2

52

26

26

2

17

16

18

2

18

14

12

1

8,762

4,562

8,316

4,602

8,105

4,524

8,182

4,430

7,975

4,566

47

20

20

3

52

26

26

2

52

26

26

2

17

16

18

2

18

14

12

1

13,414

13,024

12,735

12,665

12,586

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 PRINCIPLES OF CORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE

Resolution from the Superintendencia de Mercado de Valores –SMV- by 

its acronym in Spanish) Nº 00012-2014-SMV/01.

The information referred to that resolution will be submitted to the SMV 

of the Republic of Peru, together with the Annual Report.

96

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  13  “Commitments  and  Contingencies”  to  our 

Consolidated Financial Statements.

Changes of those responsible for the preparation and revision of the 

financial Information. 

At December 31, 2016, no changes have been done.

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 

MINING SAFETY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.

97

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 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 98

MINING SAFETY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.

All share and per share amounts were retroactively adjusted to reflect 

the stock splits.

Since  2008  and  2016,  the  Company  and AMC  had  bought  shares 

periodically.

At  December  31,  2016,  there  were  of  record  775,942,270  shares 

99

of  common  stock  of  the  Company,  par  value  $0.01  per  share, 

outstanding.

CORPORATE BONDS

Between July 2005 and November 2012 the Company issued senior 

unsecured notes six times totaling $4.2 billion as listed above. Interest 

on the notes is paid semi-annually in arrears. The notes rank pari passu 

with each other and rank pari passu in right of payment with all of the 

Company’s  other  existing  and  future  unsecured  and  unsubordinated 

indebtedness.

The indentures relating to the notes contain certain restrictive covenants, 

including  limitations  on  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. Certain of these covenants cease to be applicable before 

the notes mature if the Company obtains an investment grade rating. 

The Company obtained investment grade rating in 2005.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 In  addition,  the  Company´s  Mexican  operations  hold 

$51.1  million  in  bonds  referred  above  as  “Yankee 

100

bonds”, contain a covenant requiring Minera Mexico to 

Leaching process, 

SX-EW Plant.

maintain  a  ratio  of  EBITDA  to  interest  expense  of  not 

less than 2.5 to 1.0 as such terms are defined in the 

debt instrument. 

At December 31, 2016, the Company was in compliance 

with this covenant.

Please see Note 11 “Financing” for a discussion about 

the  covenants  requirements  related  to  our  long-term 

debt, on Form 10-K 2016.

MINING SAFETY101

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 102

Ite wetlands 

Tacna, Peru.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARDMEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT 
DECEMBER 31, 2016 

GERMAN LARREA MOTA-VELASCO

Director.

Mr. Larrea has been Chairman of the Board of Directors since December 

1999, Chief Executive Officer from December 1999 to October 2004, and 

a member  of our Board of Directors 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 

103

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)  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 a director of the Consejo Mexicano de Negocios since 1999, 

was a director of Banco Nacional de Mexico, S.A. (Citigroup) from 1992 

to 2015 and was also a director of Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. from 1999 to 

2014.

OSCAR GONZALEZ ROCHA

Director.

Mr.  Gonzalez  Rocha  has  been  our  President  since  December  1999  and 

our President and Chief Executive Officer since October 21, 2004. He has 

been a director of the Company since November 1999. Mr. Gonzalez Rocha 

has  been  the  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of Americas  Mining 

Corporation  (“AMC”)  since  November  1,  2014  and  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 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 December 1999 to October 20, 2004. 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 (“UNAM”) 

in Mexico City, Mexico.

EMILIO CARRILLO GAMBOA 

104

Director. 

Mr. Carrillo Gamboa has been a director of the Company since May 

30, 2003 and is our fourth independent director nominee. Mr. Carrillo 

Gamboa  is  a  prominent  lawyer  in  Mexico  and  has  been  the  Senior 

Partner of the  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 has been a 

member of the valuation, contract review, nominating and corporate 

governance,  and  audit  committees  of  The  Mexico  Fund,  Inc.  since 

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD2002.    Mr.  Carrillo  Gamboa  has  served  on  the  board  and  audit 

committee of Grupo Mexico since 2004 and on the boards of Grupo 

Nacional Provincial S.A.B. (Mexican insurance company) since 2007, 

Grupo  Posadas,  S.A.B.  de  C.V.  (Mexican  hotel  operation  company) 

since  2006,  Grupo  Profuturo,  S.A.B.  de  C.V.  (Mexican  insurance 

and  pension  holding  company)  since  2009,  and  Kimberly-Clark  de 

Mexico, S.A.B. de C.V. (consumer products) since 2002.  Mr. Carrillo 

Gamboa has a law degree from the UNAM in Mexico City, Mexico. He 

also attended a continuous legal education program at Georgetown 

University Law Center in Washington D.C., and practiced at the World 

Bank.

105

ALFREDO CASAR PEREZ

Director.

Mr. Casar Perez has been a director of the Company since October 

26, 2006. He has 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  Mexico,  ITAM,  and 

one  in  Industrial  Engineering  from  Anahuac  University  in  Mexico 

City, Mexico. He also holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the 

University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 106

ENRIQUE CASTILLO SANCHEZ MEJORADA

Director.

Mr. Castillo Sanchez Mejorada  has been a director of the Company 

since  July  26,  2010  and  is  our  fifth  independent  director  nominee.  

From  May  2013  to  date,  Mr.  Castillo  Sanchez  Mejorada  has  been 

Senior  Partner  of  Ventura  Capital  Privado,  S.A.  de  C.V.  (Mexican 

financial  company)  and  since  October  2013  to  date,  he  has  been 

Chairman of the board of directors  of Maxcom Telecomunicaciones, 

S.A.B. de C.V. (Mexican telecommunications company).  

From April 2011 to May 2013, Mr. Castillo Sanchez Mejorada was a 

senior advisor at 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 of directors and Chief Executive Officer 

of Ixe Grupo Financiero, S.A.B. de C.V., 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 is Chairman of 

the Board of Banco Nacional de Mexico, S.A. (Banamex), one of the 

largest  banks  in  Mexico  and  serves  as  an  independent  director  on 

the boards of directors of (i) Grupo Herdez, S.A.B. de C.V., a Mexican 

holding company for the manufacture, sale and distribution of food 

products; (ii)  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; (iii)  Medica 

Sur, S.A.B. de C.V., a Mexico-based company engaged in the hospital 

business and (iv) UNIFIN, an independent leasing company. He is also 

a Senior Advisor for General Atlantic in Mexico, a private equity firm 

based out of New York. From __ to April 2016, Mr. Castillo Sanchez 

Mejorada served as a member of the board of directors of Organizacion 

Cultiba, S.A.B. de C.V. (formerly Grupo Embotelladoras Unidas, S.A.B. 

MEMBERS OF THE BOARDde  C.V.),  a  Mexico-based  holding  company  primarily  engaged  in  the  beverage 

industry. From April 2012 until April 2014, Mr. Castillo Sanchez Mejorada served as 

an independent director on the board and as a member of the audit committee of 

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V., a Mexico-based and NYSE-listed 

company that operates, maintains and develops 12 airports in the Pacific and central 

regions of Mexico.  Mr. Castillo Sanchez Mejorada was a member of the board of 

directors  of  Grupo  Casa  Saba,  S.A.B.  de  C.V.,  a  Mexican  wholesale  distributor  of 

pharmaceutical, health, beauty and other consumer products and operator of a retail 

107

pharmacy  chain,  from April  2010  until  2013.    Mr.  Castillo  Sanchez  Mejorada  has 

been a member of the audit committee of Alfa, S.A.B. de C.V. since 2010.Mr. Castillo 

Sanchez Mejorada holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the 

Anahuac University, in Mexico City, Mexico.

XAVIER GARCIA DE QUEVEDO TOPETE

Director.

Mr. Garcia de Quevedo has been a director of the Company since November 1999. 

He  was  our  Chief  Operating  Officer  from  April  12,  2005  until  April  23,  2015. 

Since November 1, 2014 Mr. Garcia de Quevedo Topete  serves as the President 

of  the  infrastructure  division  of  Grupo  Mexico,  composed  of  the  energy,  gas,  oil 

and  construction  subsidiaries  of  Grupo  Mexico.    He  was  the  President  and  Chief 

Executive  Officer  of  Southern  Copper  Minera  Mexico  from  September  2001  until 

November 1, 2014. He was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Americas 

Mining Corporation from September 7, 2007 to October 31, 2014.  From December 

2009 to June 2010, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Asarco LLC, 

previously he was President of Asarco LLC from November 1999 to September 2001. 

Mr. Garcia de Quevedo began 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  Executive 

Vice-President 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 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 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 UNAM in Mexico City, Mexico. He also attended a 

continuous business administration and finance program at the Technical Institute of 

Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico.

DANIEL MUÑIZ QUINTANILLA

Director.

Mr. Muñiz has been a director of the Company since May 28, 2008. He was appointed 

108

Executive Vice President of the Company on April 28, 2016. Mr. Muñiz has 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 Law Center in 

Washington D.C., and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Instituto 

de Empresa in Madrid, Spain.

LUIS MIGUEL PALOMINO BONILLA

Director.

Dr. Palomino has been a director of the Company since March 19, 2004 and is a 

special independent director nominee. Dr. Palomino has been Chairman of the board 

of directors 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    Profit  Consultoria  e  Inversiones  (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 director and chairman 

of  the  audit  committee  of  the  Bolsa  de  Valores  de  Lima  (Lima  Stock  Exchange) 

since March 2013. 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 

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD109

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 

the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, 

Pennsylvania  and  graduated  from  the  Economics  Program  of  the 

University of the Pacific in Lima, Peru.

GILBERTO PEREZALONSO CIFUENTES

Director.

Mr. Perezalonso has been a director of the Company since June 2002 

and is a special independent director nominee. Mr. Perezalonso was 

Chairman of the board of directors of Volaris Compañia de Aviacion, 

S.A.P.I. de C.V. (airline) from March 2, 2011 to November 2014.  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 of directors 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 directors of Gigante, S.A. de C.V. (retail), Masnegocio Co. S. de R.L. 

de  C.V.  (information  technology),  Intellego  (technology),  Telefonica 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 Moviles  Mexico,  S.A.  de  C.V.  (wireless  communication),  Cruz  Roja 

Mexicana (emergency and medical services), Construction Company 

Marhnos  (housing  construction),  and  Fomento  de  Investigacion  y 

Cultura  Superior, A.C.  (Foundation  of  the  Iberoamerican  University). 

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 in Mexico City, 

Mexico  and  a  Master’s  degree  in  Business Administration  from  the 

Business Administration Graduate School for Central America (INCAE) 

110

in Nicaragua. Mr. Perezalonso has also attended a Corporate Finance 

program at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

CARLOS RUIZ SACRISTAN

Director.

Mr. Ruiz Sacristan has been a director of the Company since February 

12,  2004  and  is  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 

Communications  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  the 

Chairman of the board of directors of Asarco LLC. Mr. Ruiz Sacristan 

was a member of the board of directors from 2007 to 2012 and of 

the audit, and environmental and technology committees of Sempra 

Energy (energy services). In 2012, Mr. Ruiz Sacristan was appointed 

MEMBERS OF THE BOARDChairman and Chief Executive Officer of IEnova, the Mexican operating subsidiary 

of  Sempra  Energy.  He  is  a  member  of  the  boards  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), 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  in  Mexico  City,  Mexico,  and  a  Master’s  degree  in 

Business Administration from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.

111

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 

GERMAN LARREA MOTA-VELASCO

Chairman of the Board of Directors

OSCAR GONZALEZ ROCHA

President and Chief Executive Officer

DANIEL MUÑIZ QUINTANILLA

112

Vicepresidente Ejecutivo

RAUL JACOB RUISANCHEZ

Vice-President, Finance Treasurer and Chief 

Financial Officer

EDGARD CORRALES AGUILAR

Vice-President, Exploration

JORGE LAZALDE PSIHAS

Secretary

ANDRES FERRERO G.

General Counsel

LINA VINGERHOETS VILCA

Comptroller

RAFAEL FERNANDO LOPEZ ABAD

General Auditor

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NEXT OF KIN 

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 88.9 % of the stock of the Company, as of December 

113

31, 2016.   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  Carlos  Ruiz  Sacristan,  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.  

Additionally, Messrs. Emilio Carrillo Gamboa and Enrique Castillo Sanchez 

Mejorada are our fourth and fifth independent directors.    At its meeting 

on  January  28,  2016,  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 

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 relationship of affinity and/or 

consanguinity exists among the members of the Board, and between them 

and the Executive Officers of Southern Copper Corporation.

. 

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE 
BOARD 

SCC’s Board of Directors has organized the following 

5.  Corporate  Governance  Committee.    It  is  comprised  of 

Special Committees:

four Board members and has as its primary functions 

to consider and make recommendations to the Board 

1.  Executive Committee. It is comprised of five members 

concerning  the  appropriate  function  and  needs  of 

who substitute for the Board when sessions or decisions 

the  Board,  to  develop  and  recommend  to  the  Board 

are required concerning urgent matters, or matters for 

corporate governance principles, to oversee evaluation of 

which  the  Board  would  have  expressly  delegated  its 

the Board and management, and to oversee and review 

114

mandate.

compliance with the disclosure and reporting standards 

of the Company that require full, fair, accurate, timely, 

2.  Audit Committee. It is comprised of three independent 

and understandable disclosure of material information 

Board members who are knowledgeable in accounting 

regarding the Company in reports and documents that 

and financial matters. Its main purpose is to: (a) assist 

it files with the SEC, the NYSE and equivalent authorities 

the Board in monitoring (i) the quality and integrity of the 

in  the  countries  in  which  the  Company  operates,  as 

Company’s  financial  statements;  (ii)  the  qualifications 

well as in other public communications that it regularly 

and  independence  of  the  independent  auditors;  (iii) 

makes.

the  performance  of  the  internal  audit  function  and  of 

the  independent  auditors;  and  (iv)  the  Company’s 

6.  Administrative  Committee.  It  is  designated  by  the 

compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and 

Named Fiduciary appointed by the Board for the benefit 

(b) prepare the report required by SEC rules.

plans as required by the Employee Retirement Income 

Security Act – ERISA of the United States.  ERISA is the 

3.  Compensation Committee.  It is comprised of four Board 

law that covers employee retirement and other benefit 

members and its principal objective is to evaluate and 

plans.    Mr.  Daniel  Muñiz  Quintanilla  is  the  Board-

establish the remunerations of principal officers and key 

appointed Named Fiduciary for the Company’s benefits 

employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.

plans subject to US regulations, including ERISA. This 

Officer  appoints  an  Administrative  Committee,  which 

4.  Special Nominating Committee.  It is comprised of two 

is  comprised  of  three  management  members  and  its 

independents Board members and one nominated by 

purpose is to administer and manage said plans and to 

the Board and it has the exclusive authority to propose 

oversee the performance of the trust agents and other 

and evaluate individuals who are proposed as special 

fiduciaries charged with investing the plans’ funds.

independents directors.

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ADMINISTRATION AND BOARD INCOME

Total remunerations of Board and Administration members, in relation to the

Company´s gross income is 0.07%.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual stockholders meeting of Southern Copper Corporation will be held at Edificio 

Parque  Reforma,  Campos  Eliseos  No.  400,  9th  Floor,  Col.  Lomas  de  Chapultepec, 

Mexico City, C.P. 11000, Mexico, on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 9:00 A.M., Mexico 

City time.

CORPORATE OFFICES

UNITED STATES 

1440 E. Missouri Avenue, 

Suite 160,

Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA.

Phone: +(602) 264-1375 

MEXICO 

Edificio Parque Reforma, Campos

Eliseos No. 400 

Col. Lomas de Chapultepec Mexico D.F.

Phone: +(52-55) 1103-5000

PERU 

Caminos del Inca Avenue No. 171

Chacarilla del Estanque

Santiago de Surco Lima 33, Peru

Phone: +(511) 512-0440, Ext. 3181

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016  
 
TRANSFER AGENT, REGISTRAR AND STOCKHOLDER SERVICES

Computershare

480 Washington Boulevard

Jersey City, NJ 07310-1900

Phone: (1-866)230-0172

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 

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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.

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OTHER CORPORATE INFORMATION

For other information on the corporation or to obtain additional copies of the annual 

report, Form 10-K 2015  contact to Investor Relations Department at our corporate 

offices:

Southern Copper Corporation

USA: 1440 East Missouri Avenue, Suite 160 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.

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PERU: Caminos del Inca Avenue 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

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

ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016  
118

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

German Larrea Mota-Velasco

Oscar Gonzalez Rocha

Emilio Carrillo Gamboa

Alfredo Casar Perez

Enrique Castillo Sanchez Mejorada

Xavier Garcia de Quevedo Topete

Daniel Muñiz Quintanilla

Luis Miguel Palomino Bonilla

Gilberto Perezalonso Cifuentes

Carlos Ruiz Sacristan

Audit Committee

Emilio Carrillo Gamboa, Presidente del Comite,

Luis Miguel Palomino Bonilla

Gilberto Perezalonso Cifuentes

Enrique Castillo Sanchez Mejorada

MEMBERS OF THE BOARDTailing disposal, 

Quebrada Honda, 

Tacna, Peru.

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ANNUAL REPORT  / 2016 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 2016. SCC takes responsibility for its contents according to 

applicable requirements”.

ANDRÉS FERRERO G.  

Assistant Secretary 

RAÚL JACOB RUISÁNCHEZ

Vice-President Finance and  

Chief Financial Officer

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 

accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. “SCCO”, “SCC”, “Southern Copper” or the 

“Company” includes Southern Copper Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.  

 
 
 
 
ANNUAL REPORT WHOLLY 

SOLID

SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION

CORPORATE OFFICES
UNITED STATES
1440 E. Missouri Avenue, 
Suite 160, Phoenix, AZ 85014, U.S.A.
Phone: +(602) 264-1375

MEXICO
Edificio Parque Reforma, Campos Eliseos Nº 400. floor 9
Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico D.F.
Phone: + (52-55) 1103-5000

PERU 
Caminos del Inca Avenue 171
Chacarilla del Estanque, Santiago de Surco 
Lima 33 - Peru
Phone: +(511) 512-0440, Anexo 3354

Symbol: SCCO

E-mail

southerncopper@southernperu.com.pe

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