Here are the Wood Mackenzie classifications of brownfield projects we use to track captial intensity:
Restarts (R) are mines which were previously in production and whose mine and process infrastructure are largely intact such that the capex requirement to resume operations is low. |
Extensions (T) represent mine developments to feed the existing mill capacity; examples include the Grasberg Underground project and Lomas Bayas SxEw Phase II. Also included in this category are restarts which require mine developments only, such as the El Valle and Minas de Rio Tinto projects in Spain. |
Expansions (X) include expansions of both the mining and processing capacities in the order of >30% such as Kansanshi Phase II (285-400kt/a) and Cuajone (87-105kt/d). include Kansanshi Phase II (285-400kt/a) This type of expansion would typically utilise the existing power and building infrastructures; larger scope expansions requiring the construction of a new mill are more like Greenfield expansions and would require higher capex. |
Expansions (N) are expansions of existing operations which require the construction of a new processing facility (mill or SxEw plant) or the development of a brand new mine. Examples include operations transitioning from processing oxide ores (leach-SxEw) to sulphide ores (mill) such the Quebrada Blanca phase 2 project. |