CO D E LCO I n n Ovat I O n st r at Egy: ECO M E ta L E s L I M I t E D, a p p L I E D I n n Ovat I O n

Carlos E. Rebolledo Ibacache

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

A r s e n i cA great challenge

The depletion of oxidized minerals and the beginning of the exploitation of complex sulphides implies the treatment of more impurities.

Increase of environmental restrictions.

Waste should be treated more efficiently in order to reach authorized limits.

Recovery of valuable elements contained in the waste becomes an imperative.

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

Co

op

er

gra

de

(%

)

Cu

Co

ns

pro

du

cti

on

(K

tms

)

Oxides

1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020

1,2

1,1

1,0

0,9

0,8

0,7

0,6

0,5

Ars

en

ic g

rad

e (

%)

2006 2008 2010 201620142012 2018 2020 2022

0,24

0,22

0,20

0,18

0,16

0,14

0,12

0,10

Sulfides

CONCENTRATE

19

92

19

94

19

96

19

98

20

00

20

02

20

04

20

06

20

08

20

10

20

12

20

14

20

16

20

18

20

20

20

22

20

24

Ref: Codelco (2016).

Ref: Codelco (2016).

Ref: Wood Mackenzie Codelco (2016).

>1%>x>0.3% As

0.3>=x0.15% As

0.15>=x 0.1% As

<= 0.1% As

>1% As

80.000

70.000

60.000

50.000

40.000

30.000

20.000

10.000

0

S o l v i n g t h e a r s e n i c p r o b l e m i s a p r i o -r i t a r s e n i c p r o b l e m i s a p r i o r i t y

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

ArsenicSolving the arsenic problem is a priority

Copper mining industryCurrent and future scenarios

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

Selling

Blending Roaster Smelter +Refinery

Wastetreatment

AutoclaveLeaching

Cu Concs As content

Localprocessing

Copper mining industryCurrent and future scenarios

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

SellingThe Future…

Blending Roaster Smelter +Refinery

Wastetreatment

AutoclaveLeaching

Cu Concs As content

Localprocessing

Seal of approval

Seal of approval

EcoMetales developments

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

Copper smelter/refinery waste treatment

Complex Cu Concs treatment

A

B

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

Copper smelter/refinery waste treatment Current and future scenarios

0

10.000

20.000

30.000

40.000

50.000

60.000

70.000

80.000

90.000

2017 2020 2023 2026 2029 2032 2035 2038 2041 2044 2047 2050 2053 2056 Year

Flu

e d

us

t* (

t)

*Collected from off-gas treatment system, mainly from electrostatic precipitator

8%Ramp Up and Start Up

59%Construction

8%Administrative

Issues

24%Lab Trials, Pilot Test,

Trade Off

USD $ 75.000.000CAPEX

Key issues for the project

development

A flue dust leaching plant followed by a selective arsenic precipitation plant from existing facilities (BioCOP).

Long-term vision, discipline and willingness to take risks.

The need for low-cost solutions.

Lack of availability of solutions on the market.

Focused research. Pilot trials to elucidate unknown process variables and scale-up.

Brownfield project The need of optimizing existing facilities.

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

• ECL , 100% subsidiary of

CODELCO, focused on deliver

environmental solutions and value recovery for mining

residues.

• ECL has a total workforce of about 300 people and is supported by 250

environmental permits.

• ECL has processed more than 400,000 tons

of residues recovering 80,000 tons of copper.

Since the start-up of the As stabilization plant, more than 7,500 tons of arsenic have been

stabilized.

Copper smelter/refinery waste treatment Current and future scenarios

Copper smelter/refinery waste treatment Current and future scenarios

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

Leaching1

Leaching2

Slurry Slurry

Leachingresidue toECL as aby-product

Dilution water

Sulphuric acid

Flue dust

Refinery and acidplant euents

FILTER

Limestone slurry

Magnetite

Storage tank

Oxidationstage

PrecipitationI

PrecipitationII

H2O 70%

THICKENER

THICKENERFILTER

PLS to SX-EWSteam

PLS

Scorodite toEcoMetales landfill

Copper smelter/refinery waste treatment Arsenic Stabi l izat ion plant

Precipitation of scorodite at laboratory scale.

2006PAA Project. Pilot Plant Trials. PAA Construction. PAA Start-up.

2010-2012Start of operation of PAA.

2013Improvement of boiler use and limestone preparation stage.

2014Optimization of ferric solution preparation stage.

2015Improvement of oxidation stage.

2016Optimization of precipitation stage.

2017Improvement of automatic control.

2018

Continuous learning during the plant operation

The greatest challenge: The construction of an industrial plant based on a scientific paper

Re

du

ctio

n ra

re o

f u

nit

co

st

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2010-2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

EcoMetales developments

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

Copper smelter/refinery waste treatment

Complex Cu Concs treatment

A

B

Concentrado Rajos Chuqui / RT Concentrado Chuqui. Subterráneo

Concentrado MH Rajo Concentrado MH Subterráneo

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

0

500

1.000

1.500

2.000

2.500

Co

nce

ntr

ate

K

t

production of complex concentrate in north district*

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

Complex Cu Concs treatmentCurrent and future scenarios

* PQ/PND 2016

20

16

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

0,00

0,50

1,00

1,50

2,00

2,50

3,00

3,50

4,00

4,50

As conc. MH Rajo As conc. Chuqui Global As conc. MH Subterráneo

arsenic content of complex concentrate in north district*

ars

en

ic c

on

ten

t %

Complex Cu Concs treatment Current and future scenarios

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

* PQ/PND 2016

Complex Cu Concs treatment Complex Concentrate Leaching Process (PLCC)

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

A MATURE AN D E NVI RON M E NT - FRI E N DLY TECH NOLOGY I N TH E M I N I NG I N DUSTRY

FEASIBILITY STUDY

2014

2015

PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY

START OF LABORATORY TRIALS

Hatch/Sherritt

Hatch/SGS

NOV

JAN2016

FEASIBILITY STUDY

START OF PILOT TRIALS

2020START OF

OPERATIONS

GO-AHEAD DECISION

START OF CONSTRUCTION

ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL

2017

Water

AUTOCLAVE

DMH concentrates

DCH concentratesFEEDING

Roaster flue dust

FILTER Solid

THICKENER

Encapsulatedarsenic

Pulpconditioner

Arsenical waste

PLS (Copper-rich pregnant leach solution)FINAL DISPOSAL

DCHDRT

Cooling waterOxygen

28 bars 220°C

The process considers the leaching of complex copper concentrates through a high-pressure vessel. The arsenic stabilization is also performed inside the vessel.

The project capacity is 200,000 t/y, the go-ahead decision should be taken during 2017.

Advantages:

Almost zero emission

Stable residue as scorodite

Utilization of existing SX-EW facilities

Low water consumption

Competitive costs

Capex USD $ 324.000.000

The schedule defines the start-up for the new facilities in 2020.

Complex Cu Concs treatment Complex Concentrate Leaching Process (PLCC)

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

Critical complement for Codelco to be

able to comply with new environmental

regulation.

Contribution of 200 ktpy of clean production to the

system.

First technology in the world that would close the arsenic circuit; does

not emit impurities and generates stable

arsenic waste.

Takes advantage of existing installations;

SX-EW plants and leach pads to use the

acid produced.

REGULATION CLEAN PRODUCTION

Processes using autoclave leaching are well known.

MATURE TECHNOLOGY

ARSENIC OPTIMIZATION

As33

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

Complex Cu Concs treatmentComplex Concentrate Leaching Process (PLCC)

M

New developments Part of the next years

E c o M e t a l e s : E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y

Recovery of trace elements (Ag, Bi, Sb and Ge) from the flue dust treatment.

Tailing treatment for recovery of minor elements.

Increase of current copper recovery of flue dust treatment plant.

Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD).

WE Want tO bE a stratEgIC partnEr Of thE MInIng InDustry

Contact us for further information

072 nueva de Lyon st., floor 17th providencia, santiago, Chile.

ph. (56 2) 2378 4100

fax. (56 2) 2378 4111

road to radomiro tomic Km. 16 ½ Calama, antofagasta, Chile.

ph. (56 55) 2320 950

www.ecometales.cl