RT Sulphides Phase II

Description: RT Sulfuros is one of the structural projects of Codelco whose objective is to exploit and process the sulfide reserves of the Radomiro Tomic Division (DRT), by exploiting new phases of sulphurated minerals from the open-pit RT mine and their processing through a new RT concentrator plant with a capacity of 200,000 tons per day (200 ktpd), to produce copper concentrate and molybdenum concentrate (Mo). The project considers the use of around 2,595 million tons of estimated reserves of sulphided minerals with an average Cu grade of 0.47% and 0.011% Mo. The copper concentrate will be transported by trucks to the Terminal Graneles del Norte (TGN), inside the Mejillones Port Complex in Mejillones. In the case of molybdenum concentrate, it will be transported to Complejo Industrial Molynor S.A. The tailings generated, as a result of the sulfide processing at the RT concentrator plant, will be transported through a new tailings gutter to the Talabre dam (operational since 1952), for final disposal. To cover the water requirements for the development of this project, the installation of a desalination plant is contemplated on the coast of the Tocopilla community, which will have a design flow of 1,956 l/s and a nominal flow of 1,630 l/s of water for industrial use. From this installation, the desalinated water will be propelled and conducted through an underground pipeline of approximately 160km in length, with their respective pumping stations, to an industrial water reservoir located on the DRT grounds. The project is located 25km northeast of Calama, El Loa province, Chile.