Spotlight: 6 desalination plants advancing in Chile

As mine depletion leads to higher water consumption to maintain production levels, water scarcity becomes a formidable challenge for mining companies in Chile.

Miners are betting on desalination plants, which will treat 43% of the water used in the local mining industry in the next 10 years, according to copper commission Cochilco.

Currently, 12 desalination plants are in operation in Chile's mining industry, 15 more are planned and six of them could start operations over the next two to three years. These are:

CERRO COLORADO 

In December, 18 companies pre-qualified to participate in the US$190mn tender to build the desalination plant for BHP's Cerro Colorado mine in Tarapacá region. Japan’s Marubeni and Mitsui, US-based Bechtel, Chilean Transelec and Italian Techint are participating.

Plant capacity will be 562l/s, with 162l/s in a first phase to provide water to the mine and 400l/s in a second phase to supply third parties. 

The environmental qualification is expected to receive approval in April.

SPENCE GROWTH OPTION

According to BNamericas' project database, the desalination plant (pictured) for BHP’s Spence Growth project in Antofagasta region will be in operation by the end of 2020.

Construction of the US$620mn facility has been awarded to a JV formed by Japan’s Mitsui and Spain’s Tedagua. Works started in 2018 and the plant would supply 1,600l/s to the Spence mine. 

LOS PELAMBRES INCO

The 400l/s desalination plant will be part of the US$1.3bn expansion plan for the Los Pelambres copper mine in Coquimbo region and is controlled by Chile's Antofagasta Minerals. 

In 3Q19 the company said the expansion was 24% complete and the rate of expenditure was accelerating as expected. Works are set to finish in 2021.

COLLAHUASI

The desalination plant for Collahuasi will have an initial capacity of 525l/s which will increase to 1,050l/s to extend the mine life by 20 years and ramp up processing capacity to 210,000t/d from the current 170,000t/d. 

CODELCO

Last December, state copper miner Codelco scrapped the original US$1bn tender for an 840l/s desalination plant won by a consortium led by Japan’s Marubeni. 

The company will reformulate the project and the new tender process will start in March. The plant will have a potential to reach 1,956l/s and under the original tender operations were set to start in 2022.

Originally, the facility was planned to only supply Chuquicamata, Radomiro Tomic and Ministro Hales, but now will include all of Codelco’s facilities in Calama. It will be the second largest desalination facility, behind the US$3.4bn Escondida plant. 

QUEBRADA BLANCA

Canada's Teck Resources' plant for the US$5bn Quebrada Blanca Phase II will have a capacity to treat 1,300l/s and will start up in 2022. Works are exectued by Isreal-headquartered IDE Technologies.

Photo credit: Grupo Cobra