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STATUS:

CLOSED

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DEADLINE:

JULY 1 2024

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CLOSING TIME:

16:00 (UTC-4)

Technologies for Competitiveness – Minera Los Pelambres

 

In the search to increase productivity levels in all its processes, both productive and functional, Minera los Pelambres, part of the Antofagasta Minerals group, launched the “Technologies for Competitiveness” challenge, with the support of Expande of Fundación Chile, aimed at finding innovative technologies and solutions that allow a new leap in productivity.  

 

This is why, aligned with the company’s purpose of Developing Mining for a Better Future, we want to invite you to be part of this transformation, contributing with the presentation of innovative projects, with high levels of technological maturity, which enhance the creation of value from different perspectives. In this way we seek to find enablers to meet the goal of being “The safest, most sustainable and productive mining company in the world”. 

¿What are we looking for?

Solutions with high level of certainty with at least a TRL 7 or higher (at least tested in real environment) are sought. The proposed solution must impact at least one of the following business areas:

Mine

Plant

TFT (Fluid Transport and Tailings)

Port and desalination plant

Transversal

*If the proposed solution addresses more than one of these areas, it must be submitted independently.

At the same time, it must respond to the value capture in one of the following areas:

Availability of Equipment/Assets

Equipment/Assets Utilization

Equipment/Assets Performance

Costs

Safety/Health/Risks

General background:

Minera Los Pelambres is located at 3600 masl in the Choapa Valley, they have an average copper ore grade of 0.497 and a production of 300,300 tons of copper by 2023. The operation is among the 15 main copper deposits in the world and among the top 5 nationally. 

Its main characteristics are: : 

Open Pit Mine:

  • Haul: 56 Komatsu 930E
  • Loading: 3 shovels P&H – 4100 XPB, 3 shovels P&H – 4100 XPC, 2 front loaders. 
  • Producción:
    • 153 mton Mov. Mine 5Y (Base case)
    • 115 mton LOM Mina Mov (Base Case)
  • Mine lifespan: 13 years. Projected 50+ years of Operation subject to Development Case approvals.

Concentrator Plant:

  • Nominal capacity: 175 ktpd
  • Production: 69 mton treated per year
  • Average recovery: 90.5%
  • 4 SAG mills 
  • 7 ball mills
  • 64 rougher cells
  • 3 thickeners of 420 feet in diameter.

El Mauro Dam:

  • Location: Comuna de los Vilos at 950 meters above sea level.
  • Capacity: 830 mton used (49%), with a maximum capacity of 1,700 mton.
  • Wall height: 187m currently, with maximum of 237 m. 

Port:

  • Location: Comuna de los Vilos
  • Equipment: 4 storage ponds, 8 ceramic filters.
  • Capacity: 120 kton CuCon, Stockpile Port.
  • Production: 1,200 kton of filtered concentrate per year.

¿Who can apply?

  • Companies, startups, institutes, research centers or other legally constituted entities, in accordance with the current legislation of their country of origin. 
  • Natural persons are excluded in this call. 
  • We extend the invitation to promote collaboration and complement technological and/or entrepreneurial capabilities between companies, startups or other entities. For teams and consortia, the responsible institution must be clearly identified in the application. 
  • Those solutions with validated tests in mining environments that have demonstrated a real and measurable impact will be privileged, being able to justify a Business Case with value contribution.

Excluding Conditions

Solutions that meet the following three conditions are required: 

  • The postulated solution must be TRL greater than 7. The results of its operation/industrial test must be endorsed by the client company, information that will be corroborated by Expande. 
  • Verifiable impact on productivity: improve OEE (equipment utilization, availability or performance) and/or cost reduction. 
  • Strategic relevance: the proposed solution must have an impact on at least one of the areas defined as strategic by AMSA. 

Milestones

AWARDING

The winning companies will have the opportunity to work with Minera Los Pelambres in the next steps as a proof of concept, controlled environment pilot and/or industrial pilot in one of Antofagasta Minerals' operations.

Terms and conditions

Partners:

Minera Los Pelambres (MLP), part of Antofagasta Minerals, is located in Salamanca, Coquimbo Region. It´s one of the main copper producers in Chile and stands out for its commitment to excellence and innovation in the mining industry. MLP is committed to its purpose as a mining group to develop mining for a better future, with the vision of being the safest, most sustainable and productive mining company in the world.

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We are an initiative of Fundación Chile with more than seven years leading open innovation processes to promote a more competitive, efficient and sustainable mining of the future. Our value lies in the integration and management of mining technological knowledge, leveraged by the collaborative work between companies, suppliers and innovation centers at national and international level.

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Antofagasta Minerals is one of the world’s leading mining companies, committed to operational excellence, sustainability and responsible development of mineral resources. With an outstanding track record of innovation and industry leadership, the company is dedicated to the responsible extraction of minerals, as well as to the care of the environment and the well-being of the communities in which it operates.

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