Chilean Startup Ceibo Delivers First Copper Cathodes Using Innovative Leaching Technology
A Chilean startup backed by BHP Group has produced its first copper cathodes from a demonstration plant at a mine site in northern Chile, marking a key milestone in efforts to extract more metal from lower-grade ores.
Ceibo extracted the copper from sulfide ores at a site owned by Compañía Minera San Gerónimo (CMSG), using its proprietary leaching technology, the companies announced in a joint statement on Tuesday.
Ceibo joins a growing list of companies—including Jetti Resources and Rio Tinto’s Nuton venture—developing advanced leaching techniques to economically recover copper from ores previously considered too low-grade or costly to process.
As new copper deposits become increasingly difficult to discover and develop, these innovations offer a promising solution to extend the life and productivity of existing mines in response to rising global demand.
Ceibo’s method enables the extraction of copper from sulfide ores using existing processing infrastructure, enhanced by electrochemical reactions that improve recovery rates and shorten production cycles.
The company is also collaborating with Glencore to test its leaching process at the Lomas Bayas mine in Chile.
Ceibo’s 2023 financing round included investments from BHP Ventures and Energy Impact Partners, joining earlier backer Khosla Ventures in supporting the company’s growth and innovation in copper recovery.
