Teck Resources Ltd. has sold a 30 per cent stake in its Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 project to Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. and Sumitomo Corp. for US$1.2 billion.

The Vancouver-based miner also says that its board has approved the project for full construction with first production expected in the second half of 2021.

Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 is a massive undeveloped copper project in Chile.

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The Sumitomo deal will reduce Teck鈥檚 estimated share of remaining contributions to build the mine to US$693 million.

Teck will retain a 60 per cent stake in the project, while ENAMI, a Chilean state agency, will hold a 10 per cent non-funding interest.

The project is expected to have an initial mine life of 28 years with 316,000 tonnes of copper equivalent production per year for the first five full years.

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鈥淨B2 is one of the world鈥檚 premier undeveloped copper assets and this transaction further confirms the value of the project,鈥� Teck鈥檚 chief executive Don Lindsay said.

鈥淭his partnership significantly de-risks Teck鈥檚 investment in the project, enhances our project economics and preserves our ability to continue to return capital to shareholders and reduce bonds currently outstanding.鈥�

The Canadian Press

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