Industria Proyecto: Mining

The general objective of the project is to incorporate optimizations to the original project and its modifications in order to ensure that the operation of MCHS can achieve the authorized production of 140 ktpd. These operational modifications, both underground and on the surface, do not alter the rates of extraction and processing of ore from the originally authorized project (RCA No. 288/2010).

The project involves the exploitation of two underground mines, one named Ciclón and the other Exploradora, with the aim of extracting the polymetallic minerals present in both veins, primarily Copper, Zinc, Silver, Lead, and Gold (main typology literal i of Article 3 of the RSEIA), estimating a useful life of 16 years of operation. The underground mining will be carried out using the “Bench and Fill” method, which incorporates vertical drilling techniques similar to sublevel stoping. Both underground mines will feed the Processing Plant, which will have a processing capacity of up to 0.60 Mt/year of sulfide ore and 0.34 Mt/year of oxide ore.

This project represents a solution for the operation of the Hernán Videla Lira Smelter, allowing for the anticipation of future regulatory restrictions on environmental standards by capturing 99% of atmospheric emissions. This will be achieved through the implementation of modern BBR+BCC (Bottom Blowing Reactor + Continuous Converter) smelting-conversion technology developed in China, which relies on the continuous blowing of high-pressure enriched air from the bottom of the reactors for the controlled oxidation of concentrate (BBR) and blister copper (BCC).