SNC-Lavalin has acquired VST Ingenieros, a leading Chilean consulting engineering firm specialised in mining geotechnical work with expertise and technology in the field of thickened tailings disposal. The Santiago-based company has approximately 50 employees. The 18-year old firm has world class expertise in thickened tailings disposal, which allows for higher water recovery, crucial in the mining industry and particularly critical in the northern desert of Chile, where most of the country’s copper mines are located.

“This acquisition is in line with SNC-Lavalin’s strategy to broaden our services in Chile and worldwide by continuously complementing and reinforcing our worldclass technical expertise,” said Pierre Duhaime, Executive Vice-President, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. in charge of worldwide mining and metallurgy operations. “Strengthening our expertise in a process that conserves water in the mining industry also reflects our commitment to sustainable development.”

SNC-Lavalin and VST Ingenieros have partnered on several past and ongoing projects, including work currently underway on an important mining water recovery project.

“As SNC-Lavalin VST Ingenieros, we can offer our domestic and international clients the combined benefits of SNC-Lavalin’s international experience and technical expertise and VST Ingenieros’s local presence and technical skills in the mining sector,” said Ricardo Valdebenito, Vice-President Mine Reclamation & Geotechnical, SNC-Lavalin VST Ingenieros (Chile Division). “In addition, our synergies and similar core values with SNC-Lavalin’s Centre for Excellence in Mine Reclamation and Geotechnical will provide international growth opportunities for all VST Ingenieros staff.”