BHP in alliance with Fundación Chile’s Expande launched an open call for companies, startups, institutes, research centers or other entities around the world that are developing disruptive water treatment solutions.
The winners will be able to test their solutions at BHP assets. Applications will be open until June 1st at the following link: https://bit.ly/42j0Iw3
In line with its vision for a water-secure world by 2030, BHP, in alliance with Fundación Chile’s Expande, launched the “Global Water Challenge”, an open innovation call that seeks to identify and de-risk disruptive water treatment solutions to sustainably enhance water recovery in the mining industry.
The open call is intended for companies, startups, institutes, research centers or other entities that have or are developing disruptive water treatment solutions with a focus on multiple challenges that are facing BHP assets: minimize brine discharge from the reverse osmosis plant; treatment of acidic pit lake waters; treatment of hypersaline groundwater; treatment of neutral brine effluent from leaching operations; and treatment and reuse of brines recovered from tailing storage facilities (TSF).
Ingrid Oyarzún, Head of Sustainability Innovation at BHP noted that “water is an integral and vital resource for our company’s production and operations and we have a responsibility to effectively manage our water interactions and avoid or minimize our potential or actual adverse impacts on water resources. But facing this challenge and making our vision for a water secure world by 2030 a reality, requires to collaborate with others, with those companies that are addressing global challenges through innovation and disruptive technologies. We invite you to think big and work together to tackle the challenges facing water”.
Philip Wood, Mining Innovation director at Fundación Chile also added that “at FCh we are committed to supporting Chile with its water transition, through collaborative efforts and a multi-sectorial dialogue. Global Water Challenge is a clear example of this, and we are very pleased to collaborate once again with BHP to identify and address the sustainability challenges that it is facing in its assets globally, as well as help achieve its climate change targets and goals”.
The finalists will have the opportunity to present their solutions at a Demo Day, where the winners will be able to work together on the next steps with BHP such as a proof of concept, controlled Environment test and/or industrial pilot on a potential BHP asset.
Applications will be open until June 1st at the following link: https://bit.ly/42j0Iw3
