IM Editorial Director Paul Moore had the opportunity to visit the Teck Quebrada Blanca Integrated Operations Centre in Santiago last year, gaining insight into arguably one of the most advanced, holistic, and effective IO implementations yet in mining.
The Quebrada Blanca (QB) copper mine has been in operation since 1994 and was acquired by Teck in 2007. This acquisition preceded the development and construction of a new operational phase, involving a shift from producing copper cathodes to copper concentrate. This transition brought unique challenges but also opportunities to apply the latest technologies and innovations.
From Santiago, Chile, the technology of the Integrated Operations Centre (IOC) at Quebrada Blanca allows the entire production chain to be operated without geographical barriers. Extensive connectivity support and integrated mine-to-port process control enable real-time operational data acquisition and ensure permanent connection and collaboration with the on-site team, located 1,700 km away and 4,400 m above sea level in the Tarapacá region.
Teck’s IOC boasts extensive connectivity and power support, featuring fully digital screens that display operational data in real time. These are visualised through several interconnected video walls installed in 360 degrees, making them the most advanced in South America. The wireless system allows connection from different workstations for the more than 200 people working in shifts, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
IM visited the IOC located in the Las Condes district, having the opportunity to speak with Mario Ortiz, who was then the Manager of Integrated Operations. This position is currently held by engineer Viviana Torres. Ortiz has a significant background in IoT technology and platforms and has been with Teck for over a decade, holding various development positions. He was away between 2021 and his return in October 2023, coinciding with the inauguration of the new operational phase. Today, he serves as Deputy General Manager of the Quebrada Blanca operation.
Based on his experience in the integrated operations model that coordinates efforts between the IOC, maintenance, and operations teams, Mario Ortiz explained: “The IOCs are not just about the centre itself; they represent the materialisation of a philosophy. And not all IOCs are the same: many mines have opened them, but they continue to replicate everything on the site.”
He added: “Today we are transforming the way we mine, leaving behind siloed work to evolve towards the integration of people, processes, and systems – a more collaborative mining with a focus on people. At Teck, we are really driving production decisions centrally. For us, IOC involves everything surrounding the decision-making process in a tactical way; of course, what we are looking for is to improve productivity and efficiency throughout the value chain.”
Three pillars of success
The Teck IO model is built on three pillars: people, processes, and technology. From the perspective of people, which includes everything related to the work culture under the new IOC-centric operating model, it encompasses maintenance, engineering, planning, and budgeting personnel.
Operational data, thanks to robust connectivity and power support, shows the complete operation of all processes in real time. The interconnected screens give the feeling of being in the field. Therefore, control panels are customised according to different functions, as part of a collaborative environment.
The Integrated Operations Centre reduces the number of people exposed to the conditions and risks of a traditional mining operation. The implementation of autonomous and remote control processes includes a series of safety and accident prevention devices, with physical and technological barriers that strengthen the care of workers.
This integrated model is not achieved simply by operating remotely. For this approach to be successful, it is imperative to integrate people, maintaining connection and empathy with the site teams. Change management and empathy have also been important. “The people who work from the IOC live a very different reality from those who are in the operation. All key personnel have a site visit plan that details the frequency of visits to the production site, and we do this to reduce the bridging effect between the IOC and the mine.”
Ortiz says that Teck has taken the IO model further than any other mining company in terms of putting the underlying principles into practice. The same Management Operating System (MOS) is being used for all its operations, not only for QB, but with all Teck assets working under the same concepts, including Carmen de Andacollo, its other copper operation in Chile.
A unique solution for a unique mine
Teck Quebrada Blanca is a world-class deposit and one of the world’s major copper operations. It is located at high altitude and is the only major new mine in the world that has had integrated operations remotely controlled from day one. Other mines are old and IOCs have been added later.
From the mine to the port, QB is 165 km away, so geographically speaking, the operations are quite fragmented. QB has a dedicated port, managed by Teck, Punta Patache, about 50 km from Iquique, where it has a desalination plant.
The IOC at QB began to be deployed in 2021, when there were only six trucks and most of the site was under construction. This is also unusual, as the IO model has been used from such an early stage.
The Integrated Operations Centre reduces the number of people exposed to the conditions and risks of a traditional mining operation. The new operational phase of Quebrada Blanca has autonomous trucks for transporting ore, operated from the IOC. The autonomous system includes multiple safety measures that allow for safe interaction with manually operated equipment, and being driverless they limit the risks associated with fatigue and drowsiness that are faced by heavy truck operators in traditional operations at high altitude, as well as the risks of interaction of smaller vehicles and large mining equipment.
Meanwhile, the implementation of an industrial-scale desalination plant is significant, making QB the first operation in the Tarapacá Region to use desalinated seawater for all its production processes. The desalination process and its transportation to the operation high above sea level is controlled from the IOC and allows for the most efficient use of the water.
The IOC can also supply energy dynamically, providing energy according to the needs of each operational area. This allows for greater overall efficiency in energy consumption. Having its own system of connection between production and supply processes facilitates more efficient materials management.
The use of this type of technology for mining development also makes it possible to measure and reduce carbon emissions and make more efficient use of energy. Its design complies with eco-efficiency standards in terms of the resources used in its construction, water use, and the promotion of better energy performance.
Teck is a supporter of and will also be present at The Electric Mine 2025, which will take place between May 13 and 15 in Santiago at Centro Parque in Las Condes – see www.theelectricmine.com