FCX · 10-Q · 2026Q2 · Full report
El Abra Expansion Project
FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC · 2026-08-06 · Importance 46 · Surprise 42 · In source text
Freeport-McMoRan is advancing a major mill expansion at El Abra in Chile that could add more than 700 million pounds of annual copper production. The proposed facility would be similar to the large-scale concentrator at Cerro Verde and would materially expand El Abra’s processing capacity. El Abra submitted an environmental impact study to Chilean authorities in March 2026, while preliminary project capital costs are estimated at approximately $7.5 billion. The project’s timing remains dependent on permitting, market conditions and other factors.
Key facts
- Preliminary estimates indicate El Abra project capital costs would approximate $7.5 billion based on estimates prepared in 2024 and project economics would be supported using an incentive copper price of less than $4.00 per pound. source
- At El Abra, the project could result in the addition of over 700 million pounds of copper production per year. source
- We are advancing our evaluation of a potential major expansion at our El Abra mine in Chile. source
- In March 2026, El Abra submitted an environmental impact study to Chile regulatory authorities. source
Impact estimates
| metric | direction | stage | expected | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| assets | positive | contingent | +1.9% | Preliminary estimates indicate El Abra project capital costs would approximate $7.5 billion based on estimates prepared in 2024 and… |
| revenue | positive | contingent | — | At El Abra, the project could result in the addition of over 700 million pounds of copper production per year. |
| assets | positive | contingent | — | We are advancing our evaluation of a potential major expansion at our El Abra mine in Chile. |
| assets | positive | probable | — | In March 2026, El Abra submitted an environmental impact study to Chile regulatory authorities. |