Location and Access
The Piedras Verdes Mine is located near Alamos and Navojoa towns in Sonora, in a safe, politically stable, and developed historic mining region.
It benefits from several direct access roads to public highways, and the proximity to the main north-south railway and two deep-water ports (Guaymas 255 km and Topolobampo 248 km).
Mexico is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”) and the World Trade Organization and has free trade agreements in place with 48 countries (including the EU and all TPP member countries).
Mexico is a stable mining jurisdiction with a modern legal and regulatory framework. These factors differentiate Mexico from other major copper-producing countries that have experienced greater economic, political, and labor relations and similar risks.
Its advantaged location allows our management and front-line employees to live in attractive surroundings with access to excellent schools and universities. This provides a significant competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining competent management and a skilled labor force.
Sonora is the largest copper-producing state in Mexico, accounting for 75.6% of copper production in 2022. Total copper production in Mexico was ~ 753 kt in 2022.
21 km from Alamos and 50 km from Navojoa
Air
Ciudad Obregón International Airport is located 111 km (~75 min drive) from the mine
Road
Connected by a 14 km access road to a paved highway
Rail
50 km to the mainline north-south railway in Navojoa
Port
~250 km from the deep-water ports of Guaymas and Topolobampo
Infrastructure
All infrastructure is in place and located close to the mine. PV is easily accessible by all modes of transport, including air transport from the Ciudad Obregón International Airport and Alamos domestic airport, road transport, rail transport through Sonora’s mainline north-south railway that passes through Navojoa, and ocean transport at the port of Guaymas and Topolobampo from which copper concentrate is blended and exported by both trading and mining companies.
The PV Mine has ten titled water concessions that grant its access to water resources.
It has direct access to the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission (Comisión Federal de Electricidad) high-voltage grid, with a continuous capacity of 25 MW of electricity at a current cost of approximately $0.06/kWh purchased on the renewable Wholesale Electricity Market.
Sulfuric acid used for heap leaching is purchased from the Grupo México smelter, but it is also available from other sources.
