Vicuña extends Josemaría's projection to 25 years

The second update of the Environmental Impact Report submitted to the provincial authorities on Tuesday establishes the extension of Josemaría's useful life from 19 to 25 years thanks to the increase in exploitable resources. Its main results were shared this week with the communities of Iglesia and Jáchal during update meetings.
Based on new studies, in-depth analysis and new findings, the document introduces a series of optimizations and adjustments that reflect a more robust design for the development of Josemaría that will have a positive impact on the local labor force, the demand for goods, services and development opportunities for San Juan, the region and Argentina.
Among the main novelties, Vicuña's technical team highlighted the increase in mineable inventory, which translates into an extension of the useful life of the future mine from 19 to 25 years. This is accompanied by an increase in the ore processing rate , which is now proposed at 175,000 tons per day, as well as innovative water management measures, given that a multi-source supply design will be implemented.
The news will be explained in detail during informative talks that started this Tuesday in Iglesia and will continue during the rest of the week in Jáchal. These meetings will be attended by municipal authorities, journalists and members of the community. The topics to be addressed are related to infrastructure, bids for large service contracts, the announcement of the update of the Josemaría deposit resources and the estimation of Filo de Sol resources. It will also include topics associated with the Training Plan, specifically designed to increase local contracting and, as on previous occasions, it will be open to a space for consultation and open dialogue with the community.
On the Second Update of the Environmental Impact Report
In environmental terms, the new study incorporates a multi-source water design that reduces the impact on local aquifers, taking into account the increased water requirements demanded by the new processing rates and life extension. A new well field (La Majadita) will be added and the use of desalinated water from the Pacific Ocean is planned for the future. In addition, 73% of process water will be recovered and reused, reaffirming the company's commitment to sustainable water resource management.
Among the novelties, the studies carried out also show an improved cut-off grade , i.e. the mineral content in the rock, for copper, gold and silver.
The adjustments to the infrastructure works will result in a significant increase in estimated labor requirements. A considerable demand for jobs, both direct and indirect, is projected, reaching important personnel peaks during peak activities throughout the construction stage.
About Vicuña
Vicuña Corp. is a joint venture between BHP and Lundin Mining formed for the development of the Josemaría deposit, an advanced copper project, located in the province of San Juan, Argentina, and the Filo del Sol copper-gold-silver deposit, located in San Juan, Argentina, and the adjacent Region III, Chile. Vicuña is currently in the process of preparing a technical report, which will be presented and approved by the company's Board of Directors, which will describe an integrated copper project, combining both deposits, in such a way as to enable the following stages for the approval, financing, permitting scheme and schedule for the materialization of this integrated project.
More information at: www.vicuna.com
For BHP and Lundin Mining press releases, visit:
www.bhp.com and www.lundimining.com.
Press contact:
Carolina Laumann
Communications Manager of Vicuña Corp.
carolina.laumann@vicuna.com