Canadian miner Teck Resources plans to draft a new version of its environmental permit to expand a mill at its Quebrada Blanca copper mine in Chile.

Following feedback from regulators, the company has withdrawn the original application sought for the Quebrada Blanca Mill Expansion (QBME) project.

Teck said it plans to consider the feedback and better understand the full capability of Quebrada Blanca prior to submitting a revised permit application.

The revised application is expected to add 12 months to the overall regulatory process for the project, from the submission date, Teck said.

In a press statement, Teck said: “Teck does not anticipate a sanction decision on QBME prior to completion of ramp up and assessment of the full capability of the existing QB asset and receipt of regulatory approval.”

The QBME project aims to increase the throughput of Quebrada Blanca by leveraging existing tailings and other infrastructure with a reduced additional footprint.

Teck owns a 60% stake in Quebrada Blanca while a 30% stake is jointly controlled by Sumitomo Metal Mining and Sumitomo Corp. The remaining 10% is owned by Chilean state-run Enami, according to Reuters.

The Canadian miners plan to commission the Quebrada Blanca Phase II project later this week.

In August 2023, Bloomberg reported that Indian steel producer JSW Steel was looking to form a consortium to bid for a majority stake of 75% in Teck's steelmaking coal business Elk Valley Resources.

The move follows Teck’s proposal announced earlier this year for a partial sale of its steelmaking coal business to interested parties.