Los Pelambres has proposed a US$875 million loan to fund part of its $1.3 billion expansion project to reach 190 KTA (kilotons per annum) of copper production at its mine, an increase of 55 KTA from current output capacity. About $530 million of the US$875 million is labeled as a green financing since proceeds will be deployed at the new water desalination plant and the associated pipeline. The plant will provide water for the production needs of the expansion of Los Pelambres mine, thus avoiding the use of potable water. We are evaluating only the portion of the transaction that is funding the desalination plant. The transaction will start amortizing in 2021 with a tenor of five years. Los Pelambres is majority owned by Antofagasta Minerals S.A., which is the fourth-largest copper producer in Chile and 10th-largest global producer, with revenues of $4.7 billion in 2018.
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