BHP Tailings Challenge
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What is new
We are glad of the great reaction the mining innovation ecosystem!We recevied 153 applications from 19 countries.Chile was the country with most applicants with 66.Due to the high number of proposals we have extended the evaluation period. -
What is coming
We are in the final stage of the evaluation process and expect to host a public event in early december to present the participants moving forward to the Proof of Concept stage.
About the challenge
BHP aims to make progress in the reduction and recycling of industrial waste. It has developed specific guidelines for the efficient use of all the resources used in their operations and the protection of biodiversity in the places it operates. Also, it wants to contribute to a more sustainable economy where there is an extension in the use of resources.
In that context and with the support of Fundacion Chile, through its open innovation program EXPANDE, BHP has launched “BHP Tailings Challenge”, a new initiative that seeks to promote the development of innovative solutions for repurposing copper tailings.
We are looking to combine cutting edge technology and business acumen to identify sustainable economy solutions able to repurpose copper tailings into a marketable product, such as new materials or others.
We are open to a broad range of innovative proposals. We expect a suite of technologies to be involved in the process, welcoming the formation of teams and consortia.
Innovative companies, startups, consortia, research centers and universities able to develop disruptive solutions and business models to repurpose tailings in a sustainable way. These can be a single or a set of solutions at different maturity levels.
Participants need to demonstrate execution capabilities to perform lab tests and develop a proof of concept robust enough to justify moving forward to an on site test.
Eligible solutions can be at different levels of maturity, from a Technology Readiness Level 2 (for details check terms and conditions) to being market ready. The only requirement is to have a scientific background and a clear scaling plan for early stage technologies. Having executed previous pilots or tests is not a must. Knowledge of mining and other markets as well as local business practices is not a prerequisite but are expected to be required as participants move on in the process.
At the Open Call stage a high level market assessment is highly desirable but a detailed business plan will only be required later in the process.
We expect the best solution to establish a business with a market potential large enough to repurpose a relevant amount of fresh copper tailings into a marketable product (for details, login to the application platform where you can access the FAQ section of the call).
Join our
Community
Upon registration in the application platform, participants will gain access to the “BHP Tailings Challenge Community.” This is a public collaboration space facilitated by Expande where participants can upload information about their company and/or solution. The goal of the community is to provide a showcase where members can meet and identify potential partners in an organic manner.
Grants
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USD 50,000
A USD 50,000 grant for teams selected to participate in the Proof of Concept stage.
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USD 300,000
A USD 300,000 grant for teams selected to participate in the “On Site Test” stage.
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USD 8,6 Mill
A USD 8,600,000 grant for the winning solution. This can be allocated to one or more teams if more than one solution is considered highly relevant to address the challenge by the evaluation board.
Timeline
1
Launch open call
JUNE 16th
2
Close Call
SEPTEMBER 4
3
Select Teams announcement
DECEMBER
4
DemoDay
DECEMBER
Proof of concept
Up to 10 teams will be selected and provided with tailings samples to validate their solutions at lab scale. These Participants will receive a grant of USD 50.000 each. Execution time: 6 months upon reception of tailings sample.
5
DemoDay
SEPTEMBER 2021
On-site Test
Up to three teams will be selected to demonstrate their solution is technically and commercially viable, either at site or in a similar environment. These teams will receive a grant of USD 300.000 to execute these activities. Additionally, Expande will provide support for fundraising efforts. Execution time: 18 months.
6
Final DemoDay
JUNE 2023
Scale Up
A grant of USD 8.600.000 will be available for one or more finalists to scale their solutions in collaboration with BHP. BHP reserves the right to continue negotiations with all Participants to scale up sustainable economy solutions through a commercial agreement to repurpose tailings.
About
BHP
BHP is a world-leading resources company. It extracts and processes minerals, oil and gas and their products are sold worldwide. Their purpose is to bring people and resources together to build a better world.
Wherever BHP operates in the world, they strive to work with integrity – doing what is right and doing what they say they will do.
Sustainability is at the heart of everything BHP does, putting health and safety first, being environmentally responsible, respecting human rights, and supporting host communities.
Find out more at www.BHP.com
About
Expande
Expand is a public-private open innovation program, which seeks to promote an innovation ecosystem, from and to the mining industry, enabling the adoption of local technological capabilities that lead to the development of a more sustainable, competitive and global industry. This is made possible through the mapping of the supply and demand of technology solutions; articulation and development of collaboration networks; facilitation of exchange, scaling and transfer of technology; transfer of knowledge and tools to the ecosystem; and the support to supplier companies, fostering the development of an industry of goods and services focused on mining with export potential.
Expande is co-designed and implemented by Fundación Chile and its strategic partners Corfo, Antofagasta Minerals, BHP, Codelco, Collahuasi, Teck, Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, Ministry of Mining, and the IDB Lab, under the aegis of the Alta Ley National Mining Program.
Tailings is a common by-product of the mineral recovery process. In hard rock mining, the rock containing the ore is pulverized in a series of crushing and grinding processes in order to extract the mineral. This process is also known as comminution, i.e., grinding the ore into fine particles. Because this comminution uses water, tailings usually consist of a slurry of fine particles, ranging from the size of a grain of sand to a few micrometres.
For more information about tailings BHP management policy download here
Information
Watch the highlights of the BHP Tailings Challenge launch event
Access here the recordings of our webinars, and don't miss the Q&A at the end
