Minsur plans to increase niobium-tantalum output at its Brazilian unit consisting of the Pitinga mine and Pirapora foundry this quarter after finishing work on power plant repairs and an expansion. A new flotation plant is designed to boost capacity at the mine by 75% to 3,500 t/y of niobium-tantalum alloys. The mine's hydroelectric plant is also operating at full capacity after a leak forced the company to reduce production. The company also expects to begin engineering studies for its $1.3 billion - $1.5 billion Mina Justa copper project in Peru in third quarter 2017 after completing feasibility study. The mine is expected to produce 150,000 t/y copper over the first five years and 90,000 t/y over the 16-year life of mine at cash costs of $1.60/l billion.