Canada’s Taseko Mines has lowered its full-year copper production guidance to between 100-million and 105-million pounds, from a previous forecast of 120-million to 130-million pounds, despite reporting a sharp improvement in third-quarter output at its Gibraltar mine in British Columbia.

The company also announced that wellfield operations had started at its Florence Copper project in Arizona, marking the startup of the commercial production facility.

Third-quarter copper production at Gibraltar rose 39% from the previous quarter to 27.6-million pounds, including 900 000 lb of copper cathode, while molybdenum output jumped 211% to 560 000 lb. Taseko sold 26.3-million pounds of copper during the period.

Mill throughput at Gibraltar averaged 85 300 t/d during the quarter, with copper recoveries improving steadily to 77%, and reaching 83% in September. Copper head grades averaged 0.22%, below plan but higher than in the previous two quarters.

“At Gibraltar, mining is advancing deeper into the Connector pit, and we continue to see steady improvement in copper grades and ore quality, as most of the secondary mineralisation is now behind us,” said president and CEO Stuart McDonald. “We expect another significant production increase in the fourth quarter, but will not recover the production shortfall from recent months. Annual production for 2025 is now expected to be 100-million to 105-million pounds of copper.”

The company encountered challenging ground conditions at the top of the current Connector pit pushback earlier this year that led to lower mining productivities, delaying the release of higher-grade ore from the second quarter to the third quarter

McDonald said final regulatory approvals had been received for Florence Copper, and that the commissioning phase for the solvent extraction and electrowinning plant would run in parallel with the start of wellfield operations. First copper cathode is expected in about three months.

“Commencement of wellfield operations is a fantastic milestone for Florence Copper, and a great achievement that our construction team in Arizona has accomplished in less than two years,” McDonald said. “We have successfully executed on this major capital project and look forward to first copper production and a successful ramp-up of the operation in the months ahead.”

He added that with copper prices nearing record levels and growing focus on critical mineral supply, “the timing is ideal to bring on a major new source of refined copper inside the United States".