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Company History


1978.- Grupo Industrial Minera Mexico (GIMMEX) is created by the Mexican controlling group and is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange (GIMMEX).

1980.- Construction of a new Zinc Refinery of 106,000 metric tons per year, with a US $200 million investment. Started operations in 1982.

1988.- In a public biding, 95% of Mexicana de Cobre is acquired from the Mexican government and private partners related to GIMMEX by an amount US$690 million.

1989.- Expansion of Mexicana de Cobre, Concentrator from 70,000 to 90,000 metric tons of ore per day.

1990.- In a public auction, 100% of Cananea Mine, Sonora is acquired from the Mexican government by a consortium formed by Mexicana de Cobre (76%) and Acec Union Miniere (24%) for an amount of US$525 million, with the commitment to invest additional US$400 million.

1990-1994.- US$474 million program dedicated to mine stripping, modernization and new equipment for the Cananea, Sonora complex.

1994.- GMEXICO is created and listed in the Mexican Stock Exchange replacing GIMMEX.

1995.- Construction of the La Caridad Leaching Plant (SE/ EW) with a capacity of 22,000 metric tons/ year production and a total of US $50 million was invested.

Expansion of the Concentrator Plant (SE/EW) with a capacity  of 22,000 metric tons/ year production and a total of US$ 50 million was invested.

Expansion of the Cananea Concentrator Plant with a a milling capacity increased from 60,000 to 80,000 metric tons per day

1996.- Expansion of the La Caridad Smelter with a smelting capacity increased from 180,000 to 300,000 tons of concentrate per year,and fully complied with international environmental matters. Total capital investment was US $ 150 million.

1997.- Construction of the La Caridad Refinery with a capacity of 300,000 metric tons per year copper in refined copper production and a total of US $ 175 million was invested.

GMEXICO acquires 24% participation in the Cananea Mine, Sonora from Acec Union Miniere due to the termination of the commercial contract copper.

In a public auction, GMEXICO (74%) in association with Union Pacific (13%) and ICA (13%), acquires for US$575 million the concession of the North-Pacific, Chihuahua-Pacifico and the short line Nogales-Cananea railroad lines and is created Grupo Ferroviario Mexicano (GFM) with its subsidiary Ferrocarril Mexicano, S.A. de C.V. (Ferromex). Three months later, Union Pacific acquires the ICA portion of the GFM´s ownership.

1998.- A 150,000 metric tons per year Rod Plant was built in La Caridad, Sonora Complex.

A new Precious Metals Refinery with a capacity of ounces silver 15 million of  and 100 thousand ounces of gold per year was built in the Metallurgical Complex in La Caridad, Sonora, Mexico.

1999.- GMEXICO acquires all of the outstanding common stock of Asarco Incorporated controlling, by this 54.2% in Southern Peru Copper Corporation, a Delaware company listed in the NYSE. This 2.5 billion dollar acquisition makes GMEXICO the second largest copper company in terms of copper reserves, the third largest producer of copper and fourth largest producer of silver in the world.

2000.- Expansion and Modernization of Cuajone, Perú Concentrator from 60,000 to 100,000 metric tons, of ore per day within an investment more than US$200 million.

2001.- Torata, River deverted - Peru Project within an investment of US$80 million. Optimization and expansion of the Cuajone mine, Peru mine increasing its reserves from 10 to 40 years.

2002.- Expansion of Cananea, Sonora SX-EW refineries increasing production from 33,000 to 87,000 metric tons, of cathodes/per year.

2003.- Expansion of the Toquepala, Peru concentrator from 42,000 to 60,000 metric tons of ore per day, within and investment of US $ 60 million.

2004.- Building a new smelter in Ilo, Peru with a capacity of for 1.2 million of concentrates, complying with Peruvian and international environmental regulations, should be in operation by 2007.

2005.-On April 2005 Southern Peru Copper Corporation acquires Minera México and its subsidiaries through a stock purchase agreement.

After the transaction GMexico increases its indirect beneficial ownership of  the capital stock of SPCC from 54.2% to 75.1%.

On June 2005, Cerro Trading Company, SPCC Investors, Phelps Dodge Overseas Capital Corp and Climax Molybdenum, subsidiaries of two SPCC´s founding stockholders, sold their equity holding to the market through a secondary offering.

On October 2005, Southern Peru Copper Corporation changes its name to Southern Copper Corporation.

On November 2005, the railroad division of GMexico acquires the company Ferrosur thus strengthening its transportation network in Mexico.

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