Antofagasta Minerals and a consortium comprising Almar Water Solutions, a subsidiary of Jameel Environmental Services, and Transelec (‘the Consortium’) have announced a project for a water transportation system for the Centinela mining operation in Chile.
The initiative, representing an investment of approximately $1.5 billion, will double the current seawater supply, improving the existing pipeline and constructing a second one.
To support this expansion, the agreement between Antofagasta Minerals and the Consortium will increase the water supply to the site, safely and sustainably supporting the mining operations, particularly for the extraction of copper and gold from the mine. The entire expansion will be managed by Aguas Esperanza SPA.
This significant infrastructure project includes the acquisition and operation of a 144 km water pipeline transporting 1,194 lps (110,678 m3/day) of seawater, supplying it 60 km north of the Centinela mining site, where the port is located.
It also includes the construction and operation of a new 144 km pipeline with a capacity of 650 lps (56,333 m3/day) parallel to the existing one, to provide seawater and facilitate the planned expansion of the mine through the Second Concentrator project, which will add 144,000 tonnes of copper, 3,500 tonnes of molybdenum, and 130,000 additional ounces of gold extraction per year.
The process will not utilize continental water or involve desalination. This limited processing and offshore sourcing will contribute to the site’s sustainability credentials, preserving the region’s resources and limiting emissions related to the extraction process.
Carlos Cosín, CEO of Almar Water Solutions, stated: “The scale of this project marks a strategically important milestone for Almar Water Solutions. Today’s agreement is the latest example of the growing trend towards outsourcing in the industrial sector. With this, Almar Water Solutions will not only supply water to the Centinela mine but also contribute to the preservation of the scarce natural water sources in the region.”
The CEO of Transelec, Arturo Le Blanc, emphasized that “this new project consolidates us as the leading provider of non-continental water for large-scale mining, following the contract signed with Codelco for the construction of the desalination plant for the Norte District, through the Aguas Horizonte consortium. We demonstrate that in the Transelec Group, we are not only experts in electrical transmission, but we are also increasingly consolidating ourselves as a solid alternative for the development of linear water infrastructure in this productive sector.”
The project is scheduled to commence operations in 2026 after a 20-month construction phase, during which around 1,500 local people will be employed.
The operation and maintenance of the water system will be managed by the Aguas Norte y Desarrollo (Nordes) consortium, composed of Almar Water Servicios Latam and Transelec.
Source :Almar Water Solutions
