Aurubis Bulgaria Tankhouse Expansion Nears Commissioning, Capacity to Rise 50%

Chile’s National Geology and Mining Service ordered a temporary halt on October 13 at El Teniente’s North Crater waste dump and other areas exposed to avalanche or ground-movement risks, while stating that the order does not suspend the entire division. Amerigo Resources separately said its Minera Valle Central tailings operation was unaffected. El Teniente produced 1,483.1 metric tonnes of contained molybdenum in the first half of 2026, down 34.9% from a year earlier. No disruption to underground mining, concentrators or the molybdenum recovery circuit has been confirmed; SMM is not revising its forecast.

Rio Tinto reported that its wholly owned Kennecott operation's Bingham Canyon mine produced 2,600 tonnes of molybdenum concentrate containing 900 tonnes of molybdenum in the third quarter of 2026. Product mass fell 29.7% from the second quarter and contained molybdenum dropped 40.0%; year-on-year declines were 21.2% and 30.8%. Ore treated rose 46.5% quarter on quarter to 9.726 million tonnes, while copper in concentrate increased 66.8%, but the molybdenum ore grade fell from 0.049% to 0.028%. This indicates that lower molybdenum grade, rather than reduced throughput, drove the decline. Nine-month contained molybdenum output still rose 40.0% year on year to 4,900 tonnes.

Centinela's two unions resumed voluntary mediation on October 13 and quantified the strike's operational impact. They said conventional haul trucks in service fell to 25 from 67, while 17 autonomous trucks were running compared with 21 normally. The unions represent more than half of critical equipment operators and over 60% of maintenance staff, warning impacts could intensify in November. Antofagasta Minerals earlier said the strike involved 709 workers, or 22% of direct employees, and kept its production outlook unchanged. Centinela's 2026 molybdenum guidance remains 3,000–3,500 tonnes of contained metal. No company statement has confirmed a molybdenum circuit shutdown or quantified lost molybdenum output, so SMM is not revising its supply forecast.