Mining budgeting
MINING OPERATING COST CALCULATOR
Operating cost per tonne — opex/t — is the benchmark every buyer, banker and investor asks for. This tool builds it from the line-item bottom up.
Opex categories
Mining (drill, blast, load, haul), processing (crush, mill, separation), services (water, power, workshop), transport (mine to plant, plant to market), royalties & levies, admin & corporate.
Cost benchmarks
Small open-pit copper Africa: $25–$50/t mined, $15–$30/t processed. Small gold heap-leach: $20–$35/t. Manganese DSO: $12–$25/t.
Frequently asked questions
What's not in opex?
Capex (equipment purchase, plant build), exploration, rehabilitation provision and finance cost sit outside opex.