One of the world’s largest copper mines, Antofagasta Minerals’ Minera Los Pelambres is celebrating 21 years in operation, and the company has reviewed the mine’s most important milestones, as well as outlining how it continues to develop mining for a better future. Despite the difficulties imposed by the pandemic, including the company’s decision to reduce its staff as a preventive measure, in 2020 the production goal was exceeded, which reached 359,000 t of fine copper.
It says over that time it has progressed significantly in the fields of health and safety of its own workers and contractors, excellence in its operations, reaffirming its commitment to the environment, working together with the community, transforming itself into a company committed to diversity and inclusion and putting innovation at the centre of its plans. “After more than 20 years of presence and learning in the province of Choapa in the Coquimbo region, Minera Los Pelambres is starting the next stage of development of the company, moving towards better mining, in permanent dialogue with the communities and their environment.”
Top of its review list were health and safety and inclusivity. “At Minera Los Pelambres, the commitment to life and health is the responsibility of both the company and all the people who work in the operation. Eradicating fatalities is the first and most important task. In 2020, the company had no fatal accidents and lowered its low-potential accident indicators.” During 2020, the company reached a historic level of hiring of female workers, who today represent 14.6% of the workforce. For the first time the Apprenticeship Program was made up of only women; 21 of them joined the mine management teams and 14 the concentrator plant management teams.
Through innovative projects such as the incorporation of autonomous drilling equipment, the company is also at the forefront in the development of more effective processes, with less risk of exposure of operations to humans and incorporating technology that will change mining. The Vigilante Support Algorithm project is a new predictive model that allows detecting faults in the field based on advanced analytics.
In a year marked by the spread of infections by COVID-19, Minera Los Pelambres activated beginning March 2020 a series of measures and protocols to take care of the health of its workers, families and the community of the Province of Choapa. Currently, the company has reinforced these actions, including an Active Case Search Procedure among all its workers. As part of joint work to prevent COVID-19 with the residents of the Province of Choapa, Minera Los Pelambres implemented a Collaborative Plan. In this context, and in coordination with the health authorities, more than 300,000 personal protection items were delivered, while transport respirators were provided to hospitals in Salamanca and Los Vilos, and a laboratory was constructed and stocked with equipment and supplies. It is used for taking PCR tests. In addition a support program has been set up for more than 2,000 entrepreneurs.
The Somos Choapa program has continued despite COVID-19 with the execution of emblematic projects. The launch of the Los Vilos Dialysis Center stands out, which serves more than 70 people from various sectors of the Province of Choapa. In the same community, the first stage of the local stadium was also completed. In Salamanca, to date, four projects of the Recreo and Promueve programs have been delivered to the community, through which recreational areas and community meeting areas have been improved.
As part of the fulfillment of its environmental commitments, Minera Los Pelambres in 2020 completed an extensive process of enrichment of native species in the Monte Aranda farm, in the Los Vilos commune. In total there were more than 367,000 specimens planted in 207 hectares, adding to the more than 240,000 species that have been planted in the sectors of El Mauro, El Romero, La Aguada, Tipay and El Mollar, reaching a total area enrichment and reforestation of 1,500 hectares.
The Complementary Infrastructure project (INCO) continues the construction of a desalination plant in Punta Chungo, which is more than 40% complete, which will enter into operations during the second half of 2022. With an investment of just over $1,700 million, INCO also includes the construction of a Desalinated Water Impulse System and boosting of mineral processing capacity.
The next stage of development of the company, called Los Pelambres Futuro, began with the INCO project and continues with the Operational Adaptation Project that considers increasing the capacity of the Punta Chungo desalination plant, which will stop using river water Choapa and operate, as of 2025, with 95% seawater and recirculated. The project also includes the construction of a new concentrate transportation system, which will be far from the most populated areas. The company’s long-term vision seeks to expand its operations and stay in the Choapa Valley beyond 2034, with a long-term vision of sustainable development.
