Chile’s Antofagasta submits US$1bn project related to Los Pelambres expansion

Chilean miner Antofagasta Minerals has submitted an environmental impact study to regulator SEA for a US$1bn project to guarantee the operational continuity of the Los Pelambres copper mine (pictured) in Coquimbo region, considering the water scarcity in the area. 

The project includes a new transportation system for copper concentrates from the Piuquenes processing plant to Punta Chungo port, as well as the reinforcement of the industrial water supply, which includes using desalinated water for production processes until the El Mauro tailings facility reaches its maximum storage capacity of 1,700Mt. 

The transportation system for copper concentrates will include a 126km, 8-inch steel pipeline. Likewise, to increase the capacity of the water recovery system, the company will install a new 62km aqueduct with 28-inch pipelines starting at the El Mauro tailings dam and leading to the pond at the Piuquenes processing plant.

At the El Mauro tailings facility, works will include the relocation of the recovery water pumping system so it does not interfere with the final position of the facility’s main wall.

The company is currently advancing with the US$1.7bn Los Pelambres expansion, which includes a US$500mn desalination plant with 400l/s production capacity, which will now be raised to 800l/s as part of the new project. 

According to the documents submitted to the regulator, the initiative will allow the company to use seawater as the main water source, but will also create synergies, as its water, copper concentrate and tailings transportation systems will share the same platform.

The works will take 36 months and are expected to start in 2023. They would create up to 2,000 new jobs in Salamanca and Los Vilos. 

At Los Pelambres, the company aims to add 60,000t/y of copper output over 15 years, starting in the second half of 2022, while increasing plant production capacity to 190,000t/d from 175,000t/d.