The spent ore in the Michilla site are a waste product from the former Michilla operation, made up of ore that was already leached in the past. HMC eprocesses this waste to extract the remains of copper in it, which make up for approximately 40% of its copper production.

The dumpsare man-made deposits of sterile material mixed with low-grade minerals which were not economically feasible to process at the time with conventional methods in the past operation of Michilla. The company applies an innovative technology called ore sorting, in which optical sensors identity the rocks than contain copper, separating them from the ones that don’t (sterile material). This innovative method allows to generate a pre-concentrate product that is the basis of leaching process in the Michilla mine site.

The tailings produced by the Tambo de Oro site are deposited in a solid form after having recovered 85% of the water in it. As a result of that, the operation has solid tailings, making it unnecessary to have tailings dam and the associated risks of affecting nearby communities. Together with eliminating the main dangers involved with tailing dams, it also significantly improves landscape.

The filtered, solid tailings are deposited in successive steps in which compacted land is incorporated making it physically stable and easier to naturally reincorporate the material to the land where it came from. The higher costs this entails are considered by the company as a commitment to have a safer operation with a smaller environmental footprint.

Waste management is a critical issue in mine sites. Given the above, we implement advanced waste management practices that not only comply with local and national regulations, but also reflect our commitment to humanized mining and long-term sustainability. For this reason, effective waste management practices have been implemented to minimize their environmental impact and comply with local and national best-practices standards.

We have waste management plants that consider reduction at its source, reuse and/or recovery and continuously adopting improvements and new proposal to ensure that, in the long run, our mining activity is carried out in a sustainable and responsible manner.

Our commitment regarding the operations is that continental water use be reduced to the absolute necessary minimum levels to reduce impact in communities and the environment. Furthermore, none of our current operations depends on the use of water rights for its operation, thus demonstrating our commitment to the sustainable management of water resources and respect for the environment.

In the Michilla operation, 100% of sea water is used without desalination. The company is a pioneer in operating at an industrial scale with this resource in Chile.

In the Tambo de Oro site, most of the water used in the process is recovered and recycled. 85% is recovered when filtering the tailings, then reused in the productive process. If additional water is needed, it is bought to third parties or obtained from the reprocessing of the water present in the mine.

HMC is firmly committed to sustainability and innovation, working continuously to mitigate the impacts of climate change, and to better understand the need to adapt our business. We are committed to operate without the use of continental water, and today 100% of the electricity that is used in our processes comes from non-conventional renewable sources of power. This approach not only reflects our commitment to excellence and environmental responsibility, but also to community and social well-being.

A Climate Change and Energetic Efficiency Policy crystalized our commitment to reducing carbon footprint. Additionally, we quantify greenhouse gas emissions using internationally recognized protocols to advance in the implementation of a de-carbonization plan.

Our performance results are informed in the company’s Sustainability Report

We are firmly committed towards minimizing the impact on biodiversity and natural resources in the areas where they operate, as well as preserving existing cultural and archeological heritage in our zone of influence.

For this reason, in close collaboration with local communities and authorities to make our project viable, we have prepared Environmental Impact Studies and Statements, to generate a negative impact for the environment and the local culture. This approach allows us to move towards more sustainable technologies, ensuring that our activities are environmentally friendly and contribute to the well-being of local communities.