SMM1 11-Mining company Anglo American Group (Anglo American Plc) executive said the company will South America as the next few years as the main growth area of basic metals. Robben Fernandes (Ruben Fernandes), head of Anglo's Brazil operations, will become head of its global basic metals business in March next year.

Quellaveco said it expected its copper production to continue for 30 years, along with other potential expansion, that would allow Anglo American (Anglo American) to produce more than 1 million tons of copper a year in the medium term. "Anglo is already strong in South Africa and Australia, so South America is an important geographically diverse region," Fernandes said in an interview this week.

In addition to Chile and Peru, Fernandes also wants to produce copper in Brazil. Anglo American Group (Anglo American) has reportedly obtained hundreds of licenses for exploration in (Mato Grosso) and (Para) in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Para.

Fernandes said the company will conduct a study this year to prove its commercial feasibility. Elsewhere in Brazil, Fernandes solved a major problem facing Anglo American-the leak of an iron ore pipeline in Minas-Rio, more than 500km (310mi) from the state of Minas Gerais to the port of Rio de Janeiro, disrupting supplies.

Fernandes added that the company did not anticipate operational problems, but that it had been resolved. The pipeline resumed operations in December and Anglo was given permission to increase the mine's capacity to 26.5 million tons by 2020.

Fernandes expects Minas-Leo to produce between 18 million and 20 million tons of iron ore this year.

Fernandes will be replaced by Wilfred Bruijn (Wilfred Bruijn) as the new head of the miner in Brazil.

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