Name of the Project
Taca Taca copper/gold project.

Location
Puna region of Salta Province, in north-west Argentina.

Project Owner/s
Global copper company First Quantum Minerals.

Project Description
First Quantum has described Taca Taca as one of the world’s premier undeveloped copper assets. The project has an estimated mineral reserve of 1.99-billion tonnes at a copper grade of 0.42% and gold grade of 0.09 g/t to support an initial mine life of 35 years.

An updated technical study released in February 2026 support the development of the project as an openpit mine with an initial processing capacity of 40-million tonnes a year, with an expansion to 60-million tonnes a year starting in the fifth year of operation.

The initial processing capacity will comprise two milling trains, two rougher flotation trains (each containing one row of seven cells) and two cleaner flotation circuits. Each milling train will include a 28 MW gearless drive semiautogenous grinding mill and a 22 MW ball mill. An expansion to 60-million tonnes a year will be achieved by the addition of a third identical milling train and an additional primary crusher to the existing configuration. 

Average copper production is expected to be 291 000 t/y in the first ten years of operation (with peak production of 323 000 t/y) and life-of-mine (LoM) copper production of about 209 000 t/y. Average gold production is expected to be 133 000 oz/y in the first ten years of operation (with peak production of 171 000 oz/y) and LoM gold production of about 96 000 oz/y.

Potential Job Creation
The project will aim to generate local employment, increase participation from local suppliers and strengthen community enterprises while supporting the development of local value chains.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The updated technical study shows an after-tax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of $5.92-billion and an after-tax internal rate of return of 19.3%, based on a copper price of $4.50/lb and gold price of $3 000/oz. Payback, after tax, is estimated at nine years.

Capital Expenditure
Initial capital to 40-million tonnes a year is estimated at $4.23-billion, and to 60-million tonnes a year at $1.02-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
It is estimated that the expansion will take three years to complete.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None confirmed.

Contact Details for Project Information
First Quantum Minerals, email info@fqml.com.