EMED.L Share News (EMED)

Europe-based minerals development and exploration company EMED Mining Public is maintaining its target base case production rate of 37,000 tonnes per annum copper-in-concentrate at the end of 2015, according to a statement issued by the company on Wednesday.In its quarterly operational update, EMED Mining Public outlined developments at its Rio Tinto Copper Project as well as other projects in Slovakia and Spain.Harry Anagnostaras Adams, managing director of EMED mining Public, said: "During the December quarter we brought the Rio Tinto Copper Project to the threshold of commencing preparations for construction at its first and largest mine. We maintain our target of establishing an initial base case production rate of 37,000 tonnes of commencing production in 2014 with the start of plant construction in 2013."He added: "Significant expansion plans are being formulated as also an ambitious exploration programme focused on re-establishing the Rio Tinto Copper Project as mining field with several mines operating around a central processing plant."In Slovakia, the group said that its Detva Gold Project was focusing on community consultation as part of the processing of its application for the regulatory approval of its mining lease area.Meanwhile, regulatory approval was advancing for the company's plans to test the recoverability of significant precious metals mineralisation continued in waste material on the Rio Tinto property in Andalucía, Spain. EMED's share price was down 1.10% to 11.25p at 14:40 on Wednesday.MF