HOW IT ALL STARTED… 

Sociedad Minera AUSTRIA DUVAZ was founded on December 14, 1906 by Don Lizandro Antonio Proaño Soto, pioneer of mining in Peru.

Since it's beginnings the mining district of Morococha had an exceptional mining wealth that allowed it to exploit copper high grade ore that did not need treatment in concentrating plant to produce concentrates. The high grade ore was taken to nearby smelters that allowed it to process the ore for later sale.

In the first decades of the twentieth century a process of denationalization of Peruvian mining began, where Peruvian mining companies sold their stake to the Cerro de Pasco Copper Corporation. Subsequently in 1952 the Cerro de Pasco Copper Corporation managed to have a 33% stake in Sociedad Minera AUSTRIA DUVAZ. This same participation was later bought by the heirs of Don Lizandro Proaño to consolidate the company again in the hands of the family.

In 1977, acquired from Minera Puquicocha company a benefit plant of 300 metric tons per day (TMD) for a value of US $ 1.4 million dollars. This allowed the company to produce copper, lead and zinc concentrates and then sold to the Oroya smelter. At the same time, a successful exploration program was developed, increasing the concentrator plant capacity to 400 TMD in 1987 and up to 600 TMD in 1997.

In 2014 the increase in mineral prices allowed the development of a successful drilling program that increased reserves. The greater reserves led to the development of a series of investments in the mine, plant and relavera that allowed to increase the capacity of the mine up to 1,000 TMD.

The development of the Madam Elvira project is currently being evaluated to be put into operation in the middle of this year 2017.