Also known as Neves-Corvo
Located in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal, Somincor is an underground mine producing mainly copper, zinc, lead and silver. The processing plant consists of two separate concentrators, one for copper and one for zinc.
Somincor is part of the Iberian Pyrite Belt that extends through southern Spain into Portugal and the Somincor deposit of massive sulphide ores was discovered in 1977. Mining began in 1988 and copper production started the following year. Today, the plant is highly automated and uses several mining methods.
Somincor has good transportation links, with connections to the national road network and its own link to the Portuguese rail network and the port of Setúbal.
Links
Notes
Owner: Boliden
Start operations: 1988 (discovery 1977)
Workforce: 1,300
Ore volume processed: 4.6 Mtpa
Copper production: 40 ktpa
Products: Zn, Cu and Pb concentrate
Operations: underground mine; 2 concentrators for Cu and Zn
Projects & highlights:
- Partnship with Greenvolt to develop a self-consumption PV power station of 49 MWp, producting close to 100 GWh electricity per year. Greenhouse gas emission reduction over 41 ktpa. Completion expected 2nd half of 2026.
Köppen climate type: Csa - Hot-summer Mediterranean climate
Media
- Apr-26: Boliden Somincor out to reach new mining technology heights (checked 4-May-26)
- Feb-26: Boliden Somincor partners with EDP, Greenvolt in Portugal’s largest ever self-consumption solar generation project (checked 25-Feb-26)
- Dec-24: https://investors.boliden.com/en/press/boliden-acquire-neves-corvo-and-zinkgruvan-mines-2286267
Created: Dec-24; updated Feb-26, May-26