Codelco Plans to Improve Sustainability in its Operations.
In our previous article, we outlined the carbon emissions reduction goals that the major miners in Chile have committed to over the next decade. In order to cut emission further, mining companies will need to look at electrifying their fleets, green hydrogen, and will be increasingly looking at ways to improve their supply chains.
Codelco, one of the worlds largest copper miners in the world, has outlined the steps it taken to improve sustainability in its operations.
Over the next 10 years, Codelco will focus on five key areas – carbon emissions, water consumption, the circular economy, tailings and local suppliers in an effort to advance towards its sustainability goals.
Carbon Footprint
Codelco aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by moving away from fossil fuels in all of its equipment production processes, and logistics for its underground mines.
Codelco started to test electric vehicles in its northern division and then introduced electric buses to transport workers at its El Teniente and Chuquicamata mines.
In El Teniente, Codelco included hybrid equipment for ore loading, transportation and unloading. In October of this year, it started the pilot phase of a new electric vehicle developed jointly with energy company Engie.
Water Consumption
Codelco has made commitments to reduce by 60% its consumption of continental water by making processes more efficient, reusing water from tailing dams, and incorporating a desalination plant to supply its operations in northern Chile.
Last year, Codelco and Anglo American agreed to use water from the Andina mine tailings dam for processing at the latter’s neighboring Los Bronces mine.
Recycling
In addition, recycling is also a major part of the sustainability plan, as it plans to recycle 65% of industrial waste such as steel, timber, packaging materials and scrap metal, as well as 100% of its mining tires.
Our next article will be covering green hydrogen and how companies are planning to use it in their plans to become carbon neutral.
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