November update from SMI-ICE-Chile

Despite the ongoing local challenges, SMI-ICE-Chile staff have continued the positive trends in new project development, delivery of outcomes, and expanded engagement in the ecosystem.

The JK team has led a successful installation of the Mill Filling Tool at Antofagasta Minerals’ Los Pelambres’ concentration plant, and opportunities for further applications within the AMSA group are being discussed. The team in Chile is working with JK to secure a Chilean sponsor of SMI’s global CPR research program and supporting the development of an updated JKSimMet model at the Antamina operation in Peru.

With colleagues in CWiMI, a project sponsored by MCI Inversiones Ltda. (a subsidiary of the Mitsubishi Corporation) commenced. This 3-year project will develop software to support the design and planning of integrated and optimised water supply systems for arid zones. The Centre was also successful with a proposal led by EBP Chile for the BHP Community Climate Change Resilience Fund. Together with other partners, Power Ledger and Ser Patrimonio, the 3-year project will develop adaptable energy, water and waste infrastructure to support the resilience of communities in mining zones in the north of Chile.

Over the last month, Olivia Mejias gave two presentations for the GeoScientist Team Chile, Nigel Wight presented on the challenges and lessons around social performance in mining at the San Juan Mining Expo in Argentina, and Doug Aitken presented at an event organised by Agromin in Peru on long-term challenges and opportunities in mining zones through integrated and collaborative concepts. At the Gecamin Water Congress, Giovana Garcia presented on water swapping and supply network models for more sustainable desalinated seawater supply systems, and Doug gave a presentation on water and tailings management strategies in a changing world, in which the future scenarios analysis project with Codelco’s El Teniente was used as the case study.