Freehill Mining Limited (ASX: FHS), an Australian-based resources company focused on the exploration and development of mineral projects in Chile, has announced the appointment of experienced Civil Mining Engineer Marco Meneses. Mr Meneses will lead the advancement of the company’s Blanco y Negro Copper-Gold project towards production. He brings over 30 years of operational, project development, and mine construction experience in Chile and South America, crucial for managing permitting and providing technical leadership. This strategic appointment aims to fast-track Blanco y Negro, which holds a JORC 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate of approximately 1.5 million tonnes at 1.4% copper and 0.5 g/t gold.
The appointment aligns with significant anticipated legislative developments in Chile. The Chilean government has signalled its intention to increase the processing threshold for small-scale mining operations from 5,000 tonnes per month to 10,000 tonnes per month, with legislation expected to progress in November. Freehill welcomes this proposed change as a critical catalyst, providing a framework to permit a much larger mining operation. This shift significantly enhances the viability of Blanco y Negro’s proposed low-capital, fast-start toll-treatment pathway, given its location near ENAMI’s SX-EW processing plant.
Freehill Mining Managing Director Paul Davies commented, “We are very pleased to have Marco join Freehill at an important stage in the planned development of Blanco y Negro. His extensive operational experience in Chile and familiarity with permitting, local stakeholders, and mining practices will be instrumental in bringing into production and operating a successful mining operation.” Mr Davies added that with the anticipated increase in processing thresholds and favourable copper prices, the timing is opportune to accelerate the project. Key next steps include establishing a detailed permitting schedule and advancing underground mine planning.
