Circular Economy
More than a third of the total production of the Michilla mine site is obtained through the reprocessing of waste from old operations.
Reprocessing of spent ore:
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.
Processing of dump material:
The dumpsare man-made deposits of sterile material mixed with low-grade minerals which as a whole 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 identify the rocks that contain copper, separating them from the ones that don’t ( sterile material). This generates a pre-concentrate product that is the basis of the leaching process in the Michilla mine site.
Filtered tailings
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
Waste management is a critical issue in mine sites. 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 we are continuously adopting improvements and new proposals to ensure that, in the long run, our mining activity is carried out in a sustainable and responsible manner.
Minimum use of continental water in our processes
Our concern regarding our operations is that continental water use be reduced to the absolute necessary minimum levels to reduce the impact in communities and the environment. Furthermore, none of our current operations depends on the use of water rights for its operation.
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.
Climate change and carbon footprint
HMC is 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.
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
Biodiversity and Heritage
The company has set forth a commitment towards minimizing impact on biodiversity and natural resources in the areas where it operates, 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 projects viable, we have prepared Environmental Impact Studies and Statements, in order not to generate a negative impact for the environment and the local culture. Our purpose is to continuously advance in the use of new and more sustainable technologies to achieve the goals we have established.