The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that Teck is parting ways with chief operating officer Harry (Red) Conger because of massive cost overruns at the company's QB2 copper mine. The Globe's Niall McGee writes that in a terse statement on Monday, Teck announced that Mr. Conger, who is COO and president, is retiring effective Wednesday. Teck chief executive officer Jonathan Price is taking over as president, while the company searches for a permanent COO replacement for Mr. Conger. Sources have told The Globe that Teck's board holds Mr. Conger responsible for the troubles at QB2, in northern Chile, and the Canadian miner wants to ensure there will not be any more cost overruns. Just last week, Teck announced that the capital cost estimate at QB2, its flagship copper mine, had spiralled to roughly $8.7-billion (U.S.), or 85 per cent higher than a $4.7-billion (U.S.) estimate in 2019. The problems at QB2 are happening at a particularly awkward time for the Vancouver-based company, as it tries to reinvent itself as a copper-focused miner. Since the spring, it has been in talks with companies interested in buying its core metallurgical coal business. At the same time, Teck is increasing its exposure to copper.