Desalination Projects in Chiles Mining Industry
2
Business opportunities in relation to the use of sea water by the Mining Industry in Chile Recent studies published by Chile’s Mining Council and the Ministry of Mines demonstrate that the cost of sea water is U.S. $ 5.1 per cubic meter (m3), versus $ 1.6 / m3 for fresh water. Despite the higher cost, miners are opting towards the use of sea water because of the scarcity of this resource in northern Chile where most of mining operations are located. According to the Ministry of Mines, if scheduled investments take place, companies will invest as much as U.S. $ 10 billion by 2022 to source sea water (desalinated and non-desalinated) for their operations. Currently, the Mining industry consumes approximately 12 m3/sec. According to figures compiled by the Ministry of Mines of this total, 1.2 m3 / s consists of desalinated water and 0.9 to 1.6 m3 / s of seawater, totaling an amount between 2.1 and 2, 8 m3 / s from ocean source. Looking towards 2022, if all projects materialize, mining will require an additional 10.4 to 10.9 m3 / s of desalinated water and 3.5 m3 / s of sea water (pumping up sea water to their operations, mostly high altitude in the Andes). In short, in ten years the mining industry we will raise its total water consumption by about 35%, totaling approximately 17 m3/sec. As outlined in the following table, 16 seawater initiatives totaling at least U.S. $ 10 billion in investment are in the pipeline. Region Plant name Company www Mine Stage of plant Flow desalinated water l/s Flow seawater pumping Estimated Cost US$ II Coloso BHP Biliton Escondida In operation 525 0 II Coloso II BHP Biliton Escondida Permit approved in 2009 3200 0 $3.5B III Abastecimiento de agua Mantoverde Anglo American Mantoverde In construction 120 0 $62M III Planta Desalinizadora Minera Candelería Freeport McMoRan Candelaría and Ojos del Salado In operation 500 0 II Planta Desalinización RT Sulfuros Codelco Radomiro Tomic Sulfuros Phase II In study (2017) 1630 0 $1.2B III Planta Desaladora Goldcorp El Morro Permit pending (2015) 640-740 0 $900M III Planta Desaladora Santo Domingo SCM Santo Domingo Proyecto Santo Domingo Feasibility study (2016) 260-290 400 I Planta Desaladora Quebrada Blanca Fase II Teck Quebrada Blanca Phase II Feasibility study (2017) 1300 0 III Planta Desaladora Proyecto Relincho Relincho Copper (Teck) Proyecto Relincho Feasibility study (2017) 700 0 II Planta Desaladora Michilla Antofagasta Minerals Michilla In operation 75 23 II Agua de mar Esperanza Antofagasta Minerals Esperanza In operation 50 780-1500 II Agua de Mar Cenizas Taltal SLM Las Cenizas Las Cenizas Taltal In operation 9,3 12 II Agua de Mar Mantos de la Luna Compañía Minera Tocopilla Mantos de la luna In operation 0 78 II Agua de Mar Sierra KGHMI Sierra Gorda In 63 1315
description
Desalination Projects in Chiles Mining Industry
Transcript of Desalination Projects in Chiles Mining Industry
Business opportunities in relation to the use of sea water by the Mining Industry in Chile
Recent studies published by Chile’s Mining Council and the Ministry of Mines demonstrate that the cost of
sea water is U.S. $ 5.1 per cubic meter (m3), versus $ 1.6 / m3 for fresh water. Despite the higher cost,
miners are opting towards the use of sea water because of the scarcity of this resource in northern Chile
where most of mining operations are located. According to the Ministry of Mines, if scheduled investments
take place, companies will invest as much as U.S. $ 10 billion by 2022 to source sea water (desalinated
and non-desalinated) for their operations.
Currently, the Mining industry consumes approximately 12 m3/sec. According to figures compiled by the
Ministry of Mines of this total, 1.2 m3 / s consists of desalinated water and 0.9 to 1.6 m3 / s of seawater,
totaling an amount between 2.1 and 2, 8 m3 / s from ocean source. Looking towards 2022, if all projects
materialize, mining will require an additional 10.4 to 10.9 m3 / s of desalinated water and 3.5 m3 / s of sea
water (pumping up sea water to their operations, mostly high altitude in the Andes). In short, in ten years
the mining industry we will raise its total water consumption by about 35%, totaling approximately 17
m3/sec.
As outlined in the following table, 16 seawater initiatives totaling at least U.S. $ 10 billion in investment
are in the pipeline.
Region Plant name Company www
Mine Stage of plant
Flow desalinated water l/s
Flow seawater pumping
Estimated Cost US$
II Coloso BHP Biliton
Escondida In operation 525 0
II Coloso II BHP Biliton Escondida Permit approved in 2009
3200 0 $3.5B
III Abastecimiento de agua Mantoverde
Anglo American Mantoverde In construction
120 0 $62M
III Planta Desalinizadora Minera Candelería
Freeport McMoRan
Candelaría and Ojos del Salado
In operation 500 0
II Planta Desalinización RT Sulfuros
Codelco Radomiro Tomic Sulfuros Phase II
In study (2017)
1630 0 $1.2B
III Planta Desaladora Goldcorp El Morro Permit pending (2015)
640-740 0 $900M
III Planta Desaladora Santo Domingo
SCM Santo Domingo
Proyecto Santo Domingo
Feasibility study (2016)
260-290 400
I Planta Desaladora Quebrada Blanca Fase II
Teck Quebrada Blanca Phase II
Feasibility study (2017)
1300 0
III Planta Desaladora Proyecto Relincho
Relincho Copper (Teck)
Proyecto Relincho
Feasibility study (2017)
700 0
II Planta Desaladora Michilla
Antofagasta Minerals
Michilla In operation 75 23
II Agua de mar Esperanza
Antofagasta Minerals
Esperanza In operation 50 780-1500
II Agua de Mar Cenizas Taltal
SLM Las Cenizas Las Cenizas Taltal
In operation 9,3 12
II Agua de Mar Mantos de la Luna
Compañía Minera Tocopilla
Mantos de la luna
In operation 0 78
II Agua de Mar Sierra KGHMI Sierra Gorda In 63 1315
Gorda construction (2014)
II Agua de Mar Lomas Bayas III
Glencore-Xstrata Lomas Bayas III Pre feasibility (2017)
0 500
II Agua de Mar Encuentro Sulfuros
Antofagasta Minerals
Encuentro Sulfuros
Feasibility (2021)
No info No info
II Agua de Mar Antucoya
Antofagasta Minerals
Antucoya In construction (2014)
280 0
II Planta Desalinizadora El Abra Mill
Freeport McMoRan and Codelco
El Abra Mill (sulphurs)
Pre-feasibility (2017)
No info No info $4B
II Planta Desalinizadora para Mediana Minería
RyQ Ingeniería Mediana Minería
In study 1000 0
III Planta Desalinizadora for mining, farming and sanitary use
Aqualogy (Aguas Barcelona)
various Study reactivation
1000 0
III Planta Desaladora Cerro Negro Norte
Cerro Negro Norte CAP (Hierro) In construction
200-600 0 $360M
II Impulsión de agua de mar
Algorta Norte Algorta (iodine) Permitting in process
0 400 $30M
Total m3/s in operation
1,1593 0,893-1,613
Total m3/s projects in pipeline
10,393-10,923
2,615
Total m3/s 11,6-12,1 3,5-4,2
The El Abra Mill/Freeport McMoRan spearheads projected investments (US$4 billion) followed by the
Coloso II plant/BHP Billiton (US$ 3,5 billion). Coldelco, the State owned copper company, will inject
approximately US$ 1.2 billion in a desalination plant for its Radomiro Tomic operation, the El Morro gold
mine/Goldcorp future desalination plant is estimated at US$ 900 million.
The closest to start operation, according to their announced dates, are Mantoverde/Anglo American and
Cerro Negro/CAP.
Opportunities may arise for Canadian engineering companies and desalination experts for those plants
scheduled at a later date. Some of these projects could also by supported by Export Development
Canada.
For more information contact:
Margot Edwards
Trade Commissioner
Canadian Embassy in Chile
