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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2013
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: | NOTE 9 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: Environmental matters: The Company has instituted extensive environmental conservation programs at its mining facilities in Peru and Mexico. The Company’s environmental programs include, among other features, water recovery systems to conserve water and minimize impact on nearby streams, reforestation programs to stabilize the surface of the tailings dams and the implementation of scrubbing technology in the mines to reduce dust emissions. Environmental capital expenditures in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were as follows (in millions):
|  | 2013 |  | 2012 |
Peruvian operations |  | $ | 2.9 |  | $ | 3.0 |
Mexican operations |  | 30.3 |  | 13.8 |
|  | $ | 33.2 |  | $ | 16.8 |
Peruvian operations The Company’s operations are subject to applicable Peruvian environmental laws and regulations. The Peruvian government, through the Environmental Ministry conducts annual audits of the Company’s Peruvian mining and metallurgical operations. Through these environmental audits, matters related to environmental commitments, compliance with legal requirements, atmospheric emissions, and effluent monitoring are reviewed. The Company believes that it is in material compliance with applicable Peruvian environmental laws and regulations. Peruvian law requires that companies in the mining industry provide for future closure and remediation. In accordance with the requirements of this law the Company’s closure plans were approved by MINEM. As part of the closure plans, the Company is providing guarantees to ensure that sufficient funds will be available for the asset retirement obligation. See Note 6, “Asset retirement obligation,” for further discussion of this matter. In August 2008, the Peruvian government enacted environmental regulations establishing stringent new air quality standards (“AQS”) for sulfur dioxide (“SO2”), emissions. The first step set at 80 micrograms per cubic meter (“ug/m3”) came into effect on January 1, 2009. The next step, to become effective January 1, 2014, at 20 ug/m3, is subject to availability and feasibility of technology. These new standards are unlike recognized world AQS that generally range from about 105 ug/m3 to over 250 ug/m3 in places with smelters or heavy industry. In 2007, the Company completed a $570 million modernization of its Ilo smelter, in order to comply with its agreement with the government to increase its SO2 recapture from 33% to 92%. The current SO2 Ilo smelter recapture is 95% which, with prevailing weather conditions at Ilo, complies most of the time with the applicable current standard of 80 ug/m3. The Company believes that current technology is not available to meet the new standard that comes into effect on January 1, 2014 and further believes that some rules under this regulation may allow continued operation in the absence of available feasible technology; thus, the Company will be able to continue to operate its Ilo smelter. Additionally, the Company is studying ways to enhance compliance with the 80 ug/m3 standard under all weather conditions, including adverse weather conditions and to this end has presented to the Peruvian environmental authorities a preliminary program. The Company continues to study and analyze the Ilo city air quality issues associated with its smelter and the options available for it. Mexican operations The Company’s operations are subject to applicable Mexican federal, state and municipal environmental laws, to Mexican official standards, and to regulations for the protection of the environment, including regulations relating to water supply, water quality, air quality, noise levels and hazardous and solid waste. The principal legislation applicable to the Company’s Mexican operations is the Federal General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection (the “General Law”), which is enforced by the Federal Bureau of Environmental Protection (“PROFEPA”). PROFEPA monitors compliance with environmental legislation and enforces Mexican environmental laws, regulations and official standards. PROFEPA may initiate administrative proceedings against companies that violate environmental laws, which in the most extreme cases may result in the temporary or permanent closing of non-complying facilities, the revocation of operating licenses and/or other sanctions or fines. Also, according to the federal criminal code, PROFEPA must inform corresponding authorities regarding environmental non-compliance. On January 28, 2011, Article 180 of the General Law was amended. This amendment, gives an individual or entity the ability to contest administrative acts, including environmental authorizations, permits or concessions granted, without the need to demonstrate the actual existence of harm to the environment, natural resources, flora, fauna or human health, because it will be sufficient to argue that the harm may be caused. In addition in 2011, amendments to the Civil Federal Procedures Code (“CFPC”) were published in the Official Gazette and are now in force. These amendments establish three categories of collective actions, by means of which 30 or more people claiming injury derived from environmental, consumer protection, financial services and economic competition issues will be considered to be sufficient in order to have a legitimate interest to seek through a civil procedure restitution or economic compensation or suspension of the activities from which the alleged injury derived. The amendments to the CFPC may result in more litigation, with plaintiffs seeking remedies, including suspension of the activities alleged to cause harm. On June 7, 2013, the Environmental Liability Federal Law was published in the Official Gazette and became effective on July 7, 2013. It establishes general guidelines in order to determine which environmental actions will be considered to cause environmental harm that will give rise to administrative responsibilities (remediation or compensations) and criminal responsibilities. Also economic fines could be established. In March 2010, the Company announced to the Mexican federal environmental authorities the closure of the copper smelter plant at San Luis Potosi. The Company initiated a program for plant demolition and soil remediation with a budget of $35.7 million, of which the Company has spent $33.9 million through September 30, 2013. Plant demolition and construction of a confinement area at the south of the property were completed in 2012 and the Company expects to complete soil remediation and the construction of a second confinement by the end of 2014. The Company will deposit in the confinement areas metallurgical and other waste material resulting from plant demolition. The program also includes the construction of a recreational park, a plant nursery to improve the environmental culture, and a logistic center for raw material and finished goods from the San Luis Potosi zinc plant, which the Company expects will improve the flow of traffic in the west of the city. The Company expects that once the site is remediated, the Company will be able to promote an urban development to generate a net gain on the disposal of the property. The Company believes that all of its facilities in Peru and Mexico are in material compliance with applicable environmental, mining and other laws and regulations. The Company also believes that continued compliance with environmental laws of Mexico and Peru will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, properties, result of operations, financial condition or prospects and will not result in material capital expenditures. Litigation matters: Peruvian operations Garcia Ataucuri and Others against SCC’s Peruvian Branch: In April 1996, the Branch was served with a complaint filed in Peru by Mr. Garcia Ataucuri and approximately 900 former employees seeking the delivery of a substantial number of “labor shares” (acciones laborales) plus dividends on such shares, to be issued to each former employee in proportion to their time of employment with SCC’s Peruvian Branch. The labor share litigation is based on claims of former employees for ownership of labor shares that the plaintiffs state that the Branch did not issue during the 1970s until 1979 under a former Peruvian mandated profit sharing system. In 1971, the Peruvian government enacted legislation providing that mining workers would have a 10% participation in the pre-tax profits of their employing enterprises. This participation was distributed 40% in cash and 60% in an equity interest of the enterprise. In 1978, the equity portion, which was originally delivered to a mining industry workers’ organization, was set at 5.5% of pre-tax profits and was delivered, mainly in the form of “labor shares” to individual workers. The cash portion was set at 4.0% of pre-tax earnings and was delivered to individual employees also in proportion to their time of employment with the Branch. In 1992, the workers’ participation was set at 8%, with 100% payable in cash and the equity participation was eliminated from the law. In relation to the issuance of “labor shares” by the Branch in Peru, the Branch is a defendant in the following lawsuits: 1) Mr. Garcia Ataucuri seeks delivery, to himself and each of the approximately 900 former employees of the Peruvian Branch, of the 3,876,380,679.65 old soles or 38,763,806.80 “labor shares” (acciones laborales), as required by Decree Law 22333 (a former profit sharing law), to be issued proportionally to each former employee in accordance with the time of employment of such employee with SCC’s Branch in Peru, plus dividends on such shares. The 38,763,806.80 labor shares sought in the complaint, with a face value of 100.00 old soles each, represent 100% of the labor shares issued by the Branch during the 1970s until 1979 for all of its employees during that period. The plaintiffs do not represent 100% of the Branch´s eligible employees during that period. It should be noted that the lawsuit refers to a prior Peruvian currency called “sol de oro” or old soles, which was later changed to the “inti”, and then into today´s “nuevo sol.” One billion of old soles is equivalent to today’s one nuevo sol. After lengthy proceedings before the civil courts in Peru on September 19, 2001, on appeal from the Branch (the 2000 appeal), the Peruvian Supreme Court annulled the proceedings noting that the civil courts lacked jurisdiction and that the matter had to be decided by a labor court. In October 2007, in a separate proceeding initiated by the plaintiffs, the Peruvian Constitutional Court nullified the September 19, 2001 Peruvian Supreme Court decision and ordered the Supreme Court to decide again on the merits of the case accepting or denying the Branch’s 2000 appeal. In May 2009, the Supreme Court rejected the 2000 appeal of the Branch affirming the adverse decision of the appellate civil court and lower civil court. While the Supreme Court has ordered SCC’s Peruvian Branch to deliver the labor shares and dividends, it has clearly stated that SCC’s Peruvian Branch may prove, by all legal means, its assertion that the labor shares and dividends were distributed to the former employees in accordance with the profit sharing law then in effect, an assertion which SCC’s Peruvian Branch continues to make. None of the court decisions state the manner by which the Branch must comply with the delivery of such labor shares or make a liquidation of the amount to be paid for past dividends and interest, if any. On June 9, 2009, SCC’s Peruvian Branch filed a proceeding of relief before a civil court in Peru seeking the nullity of the 2009 Supreme Court decision and, in a separate proceeding, a request for a precautionary measure. The civil court rendered a favorable decision on the nullity and the precautionary measure, suspending the enforcement of the Supreme Court decision, for the reasons indicated above and other reasons. In February 2012, the Branch was notified that the civil court had reversed its prior decisions. On appeal by the Peruvian Branch the Superior Court affirmed the lower court’s decisions regarding the nullity of the 2009 Supreme Court decision and the precautionary measure. As a result, the nullity of the precautionary measure became final and unappealable. However, the nullity of the 2009 Supreme Court decision has been appealed by the Branch before the Constitutional Court. At September 30, 2013 this appeal is pending resolution. In view of this, SCC´s Peruvian Branch continues to analyze the manner in which the Supreme Court decision may be enforced and what financial impact, if any, said decision may have. 2) In addition, there are filed against SCC’s Branch the following lawsuits, involving approximately 800 plaintiffs, which seek the same number of labor shares as in the Garcia Ataucuri case, plus interest, labor shares resulting from capital increases and dividends: Armando Cornejo Flores and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed May 10, 2006); Alejandro Zapata Mamani and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed June 27, 2008); Edgardo Garcia Ataucuri, in representation of 216 of SCC’s Peruvian Branch former workers, v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed May 2011); Silvestre Macedo Condori v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed June 2011); Juan Guillermo Oporto Carpio v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed August 2011); Rene Mercado Caballero v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed November 2011); Enrique Salazar Alvarez and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed December 2011); Indalecio Carlos Perez Cano and others v. SCC Peruvian Branch (filed March 2012); Jesús Mamani Chura and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed March, 2012); Armando Cornejo Flores, in representation of 37 of SCC’s Peruvian Branch former workers v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed March, 2012), Porfirio Ochochoque Mamani and others v. SCC´s Peruvian Branch (filed July, 2012); Alfonso Flores Terrones and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed July, 2013) and Micaela Laura Alvarez and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed August, 2013). SCC’s Peruvian Branch has answered the complaints and denied the validity of the claims. SCC’s Peruvian Branch asserts that the labor shares were distributed to the former employees in accordance with the profit sharing law then in effect. The Peruvian Branch has not made a provision for these lawsuits because it believes that it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted in the complaints. Additionally, the amount of this contingency cannot be reasonably estimated by management at this time. The “Virgen Maria” Mining Concessions of the Tía Maria Mining Project The Tia Maria project includes various mining concessions, totaling 32,989.64 hectares. One of the concessions is the “Virgen María” mining concession totaling 943.72 hectares or 2.9% of the total mining concessions. Related to the “Virgen María” mining concessions, the Company is party to the following lawsuits: a) Exploraciones de Concesiones Metalicas S.A.C. (“Excomet”): In August 2009, a lawsuit was filed against SCC’s Branch by the former stockholders of Excomet. The plaintiffs allege that the acquisition of Excomet’s shares by the Branch is null and void because the $2 million purchase price paid by the Branch for the shares of Excomet was not fairly negotiated by the plaintiffs and the Branch. In 2005, the Branch acquired the shares of Excomet after lengthy negotiations with the plaintiffs, and after the plaintiffs, which were all the stockholders of Excomet, approved the transaction in a general stockholders’ meeting. Excomet was at the time owner of the “Virgen Maria” mining concession. In October 2011, the civil court dismissed the case on the grounds that the claim had been barred by the statute of limitations. On appeal by the plaintiffs, the superior court reversed the lower court´s decision. As of September 30, 2013, the case remains pending without further developments. b) Sociedad Minera de Responsabilidad Limitada Virgen Maria de Arequipa (SMRL Virgen Maria): In August 2010, a lawsuit was filed against SCC’s Branch and others by SMRL Virgen Maria, a company which until July 2003 owned the mining concession Virgen Maria. SMRL Virgen Maria sold this mining concession in July 2003 to Excomet (see a) above). The plaintiff alleges that the sale of the mining concession Virgen Maria to Excomet is null and void because the persons who attended the shareholders’ meeting of SMRL Virgen Maria, at which the purchase was agreed upon, were not the real owners of the shares. The plaintiff is also pursuing the nullity of all the subsequent acts regarding the mining property (acquisition of the shares of Excomet by SCC’s Branch, noted above, and the sale of this concession to SCC’s Branch by Excomet). In October 2011, the civil court dismissed the case on the grounds that the claim had been barred by the statute of limitations. Upon appeal by the plaintiffs, the superior court remanded the proceedings to the lower court, ordering the issuance of a new decision. On June 25, 2013, the lower court dismissed the case due to procedural defects. The plaintiff appealed this decision before the Superior Court. As of September 30, 2013, the case remains pending without further developments. c) Omar Nuñez Melgar: In May 2011, Mr. Omar Nuñez Melgar commenced a lawsuit against the Peruvian Mining and Metallurgical Institute and MINEM challenging the denial of his request of a new mining concession that conflicted with SCC’s Branch’s Virgen Maria mining concession. SCC’s Branch has been made a party to the proceedings as the owner of the Virgen Maria concession. SCC’s Branch has answered the complaint and denied the validity of the claim. As of September 30, 2013, the case remains pending without further developments. The Company asserts that the lawsuits are without merit and is vigorously defending against these lawsuits. Special Regional Pasto Grande Project (“Pasto Grande Project”) In the last quarter of 2012, the Pasto Grande Project, an entity of the Regional Government of Moquegua, filed a lawsuit against SCC’s Peruvian Branch alleging property rights over a certain area used by the Peruvian Branch and seeking the demolition of the tailings dam where SCC’s Peruvian Branch has deposited its tailings from the Toquepala and Cuajone operations since 1995. The Peruvian Branch has had title to use the area in question since 1960 and has constructed and operated the tailing dams also with proper governmental authorization, since 1995. SCC’s Peruvian Branch asserts that the lawsuit is without merit and is vigorously defending against the lawsuit. Upon a motion filed by the Peruvian Branch the lower court has included the Ministry of Energy and Mines as a defendant in this lawsuit. The Ministry of Energy and Mines has answered the complaint and denied the validity of the claim. As of September 30, 2013, the case remains pending without further developments. Labor matters: In recent years the Company has experienced a number of strikes or other labor disruptions that have had an adverse impact on its operations and operating results. Peruvian Operations Approximately 66% of the Company’s 4,469 Peruvian employees were unionized at September 30, 2013, represented by seven separate unions. Three of these unions, one at each major production area, represent 2,244 workers. Also, there are four smaller unions, representing the balance of workers. The Company conducted negotiations with the unions whose collective bargaining agreements expired in 2012. In the first quarter of 2013, the Company signed three-year agreements with all the unions. The agreements included, among other things, annual salary increases of 6.5%, 5% and 5% for each of the three years, respectively, for all workers. On September 26, 2013 45% of the workers of the major union of the Toquepala mine held a one-day illegal work stoppage which did not have a material impact on production. On December 24 and 25, 2012, the three major unions held a two-day illegal work stoppage which did not have a material impact on production. Mexican operations In recent years, the Mexican operations have experienced a positive improvement of their labor environment, as its workers, in a free decision, opted to change their affiliation from the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros, Metalurgicos y Similares de la Republica Mexicana (National Union of Mine and Metal Workers and Similar Activities of the Mexican Republic or the “National Mining Union”) to other unions. In 2006, workers of Mexicana del Cobre mining complex and IMMSA joined the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Exploracion, Explotacion y Beneficio de Minas en la Republica Mexicana (National Union of Workers Engaged in Exploration, Exploitation and Processing of Mines in the Mexican Republic), and the Mexicana del Cobre metallurgical workers joined the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Minero Metalurgica (Union of Workers of the Mine and Metals Industry or the “CTM”). Finally, in 2011 Buenavista del Cobre workers joined the CTM. This positive labor environment allows the Company to increase its productivity and to develop its capital expansion programs. The workers of the San Martin and Taxco mines, still under the National Mining Union, have been on strike since July 2007. On December 10, 2009, a federal court confirmed the legality of the San Martin strike. In order to recover the control of the San Martin mine and resume operations, on January 27, 2011, the Company filed a court petition requesting that the court, among other things define the termination payment for each unionized worker. The court denied the petition alleging that, according to federal labor law, the union was the only legitimate party to file such petition. On appeal by the Company, on May 13, 2011, the Mexican federal tribunal accepted the petition. In July 2011, the National Mining Union appealed the favorable court decision before the Supreme Court. On November 7, 2012, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the federal tribunal. The Company filed a new proceeding before the labor court on the basis of the Supreme Court decision, which recognized the right of the labor court to define responsibility for the strike and the termination payment for each unionized worker. A favorable decision of the labor court in this new proceeding would have the effect of terminating the protracted strike at San Martin. As of September 30, 2013, the case remains pending without further developments. In July 2012, Minera Krypton, a Mexican mining company, not affiliated with the Company or Grupo Mexico, hired 130 workers for the rehabilitation of its mining unit at Chalchihuites, Zacatecas. Most of these workers, which are or were workers of the San Martin mine, joined a new union called the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Minera y Similares de la Republica Mexicana (Union of Workers of the Mine and Metals Industry and Similar Activities of the Mexican Republic or the “Union of Mexican Mine and Metal Workers”). On August 31, 2012, the Union of Mexican Mine and Metal Workers filed a petition with the labor authorities to replace the existing union at the San Martin mine. On September 1, 2012, the workers affiliated with the Union of Mexican Mine and Metal Workers took over the San Martin mine evicting the workers on strike. Several hearings took place during September 2012 with the federal labor authorities. On October 12, 2012, the federal labor court ordered and enforced a recount in order to establish which union will hold the collective bargaining agreement. The Union of Mexican Mine and Metal Workers lost the recount. This result was challenged by the Union of Mexican Mine and Metal Workers. On August 1, 2013, the National Union of Workers Engaged in Exploration, Exploitation and Processing of Mines in the Mexican Republic, which is the union operating at Mexicana del Cobre and IMMSA, filed a new petition before the labor authorities to replace the National Mining Union at the San Martin mine, because it believes that it represents more workers at the San Martin mine than the National Mining Union. As of September 30, 2013, the proceeding remains pending without further developments. On August 12, 2013 the Union of Mexican Mine and Metal Workers withdrew its petition to replace the existing unit at San Martin in order to expedite the restart of operations at San Martin. In the case of the Taxco mine, following the workers refusal to allow exploration of new reserves, the Company commenced litigation seeking to terminate the labor relationship with workers of the Taxco mine (including the related collective bargaining agreement). On September 1, 2010, the federal labor court issued a ruling approving the termination of the collective bargaining agreement and all the individual labor contracts of the workers affiliated with the Mexican mining union at the Taxco mine. The ruling was based upon the resistance of the mining union to allow the Company search for reserves at the Taxco mine. The mining union appealed the labor court ruling before a federal court. In September 2011, the federal court accepted the union’s appeal and requested that the federal labor court review the procedure and take into account all the evidence to issue a new resolution. On January 3, 2012, the federal labor court issued a new resolution, approving the termination of the collective bargaining agreement and all the individual labor contracts of the workers affiliated with the National Mining Union at the Taxco mine. On January 25, 2012, the National Mining Union appealed the resolution before the federal court. On June 14, 2012, the federal court accepted the union’s appeal and requested that the federal labor court issue a new resolution, taking into account all the evidence submitted by the parties. On August 6, 2012, the federal labor court issued a new decision disapproving the termination of the collective bargaining agreement and the individual labor contracts of the workers affiliated with the National Mining Union at the Taxco mine. On August 29, 2012, the Company filed a proceeding seeking relief from the decision before a federal court. On January 25, 2013, the Company filed a new proceeding before the labor court on the basis of the Supreme Court decision in the San Martin case, which recognized the right of the labor court to define responsibility for the strike and the termination payment for each unionized worker. A favorable decision of the labor court in this new proceeding would have the effect of terminating the protracted strike at San Martin. As of September 30, 2013, this case is pending resolution. It is expected that operations at these mines will remain suspended until these labor issues are resolved. Other legal matters: The Company is involved in various other legal proceedings incidental to its operations, but the Company does not believe that decisions adverse to it in any such proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations. Other Contingencies: Tia Maria: Tia Maria, an over $1.0 billion Peruvian investment project, was suspended by governmental action in April 2011 in light of protests and disruptions carried out by a small group of activists who alleged, among other things, that the project would result in severe environmental contamination and the diversion of agricultural water resources. The Company is preparing a new EIA study, which it believes will take into account local community concerns and new government guidance. The Company considers that this new EIA process will alleviate all the concerns previously raised by the Tia Maria project’s neighboring communities, provide them with an independent source of information and reaffirm the validity of the Company’s assessment of the project. The Company is confident that this initiative will have a positive effect on its stakeholders and will allow the Company to obtain the approval for the development of the 120,000 ton annual production copper project. In view of the delays, the mining operations for the project have been rescheduled to start-up in 2016, contingent upon receiving all required governmental approvals in the time frame provided by law. No assurances can be given as to the specific timing of each such approval. The Company has legal and valid title to the Tia Maria mining concessions and the over-lapping surface land in the area. None of above noted activities have in any way challenged, revoked, impaired or annulled the Company´s legal rights to the Tia Maria mining concessions and/or the over-lapping surface land titles acquired in the past. All the Company’s property rights on these areas are in full force. In view of the delay in this project, the Company has reviewed the carrying value of this asset to ascertain whether impairment exists. Total spending on the project, through September 30, 2013, was $505.9 million of which $189.5 million has been reassigned to other Company operations. Should the Tia Maria project not be restarted, the Company is confident that most of the project equipment will continue to be used productively, through reassignment to other mine locations operated by the Company. The Company believes that an impairment loss, if any, will not be material. Other commitments: Peruvian Operations Power purchase agreement - Enersur In 1997, SCC sold its Ilo power plant to an independent power company, Enersur S.A. (“Enersur”). In connection with the sale, a power purchase agreement (“PPA”) was also completed under which SCC agreed to purchase all of its power needs for its current Peruvian operations from Enersur for twenty years, commencing in 1997. The Company signed in 2009 a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Enersur regarding its PPA. The MOU contains new economic terms that the Company believes better reflects current economic conditions in the power industry in Peru. The new economic conditions agreed to in the MOU have been applied by Enersur to its invoices to the Company since May 2009. Additionally, the MOU includes an option for providing power for the Tia Maria project. However, due to the delay at the Tia Maria project the final agreement was put on hold, see caption “Tia Maria” above. Toquepala Concentrator Expansion In connection with the EIA of the Toquepala expansion project, some community groups raised concerns related to water usage and pollution. As a result of these issues the Peruvian government started discussions with the local communities and the regional authorities to resolve this impasse. On February 8, 2013, the Company reached a final agreement with the province of Candarave, one of the three provinces neighboring the Toquepala unit, which commits the Company to funding S/.255 million (approximately $100 million) for development projects in the province. This contribution is contingent upon receiving approval for the project and will be expended through the life of the Toquepala expansion project. In the second quarter of 2013, the Company made a contribution of S/.45 million (approximately $17 million) to the development fund of the Candarave province The Company continued working with the authorities of the Candarave province and in June 2013 signed an agreement with the National Water Authority, local authorities and the Candarave Board of Water Users for the hydrogeologic study of the Locumba river basin in order to improve the water utilization in the province. These contributions are contingent upon receiving approval for the project and will be expended through the life of the Toquepala expansion project. Mexican operations Power purchase agreement - MGE MGE, a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico, is constructing two power plants in Mexico to supply power to some of the Company’s Mexican operations. In December 2012, the Company signed a power supply agreement with MGE, whereby MGE will supply the Company with power through 2032. The estimated monthly capacity charge is approximately $4.3 million. It is expected that MGE will begin to supply power to the Company in 2014.

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