TSX- and NYSE-listed Ero Copper highlights considerable progress at its Tucumã project, in Brazil, noting that since starting site works in 2022, all engineering, procurement and construction activities remain on schedule for first copper concentrate production in half two 2024.

Ero remains on track to initiate the first phase of process plant commissioning by year-end and begin operations in the second half of next year.

Total direct project capital expenditure remains in line with current guidance of about $305-million.

Project development highlights include that physical construction of the project is now 70% complete.

Ero has also advanced mine pre-stripping, with first sulphide ore on track to be reached in early November.

All earthworks have now been completed, including the water storage reservoir, site drainage and run-of-mine stockpiles.

Over 15 000 cubic meters of concrete have been poured (over 65% complete), concluding all major foundation requirements for the project.

The steel structure pre-assembly and erection tracking is ahead of schedule with about 1 000 t of steel already in place.

Key pieces of processing equipment have arrived on site with installations either concluded or ongoing, including the primary crusher, ball mill, secondary and tertiary crushers, vibrating screen decks and flotation cells.

The main substation has been installed on site, the primary e-room commissioned, and a 16 km power line construction is tracking ahead of schedule; with tie-in to national grid power expected during the fourth quarter.

Platework, piping and electrical cabling have all begun ahead of schedule.

Ero says that the peak construction workforce has been successfully mobilised on the project. There are about 1 750 third-party contractors and employees working on site.

To date, there have been no lost-time injuries on the project, with about two million hours of work completed since 2022.