en.Wedoany.com Reported - The seawater desalination plant owned by Lundin Mining, located in Caldera, Chile, has marked 13 years since it commenced operations in 2013. The facility continuously supplies desalinated seawater for copper concentrate production at the Candelaria Mining Complex, becoming a critical piece of infrastructure amid water stress in the Atacama Region (Región de Atacama).
According to information from Lundin Mining, the Candelaria processing plant has a daily throughput capacity of approximately 80,000 tonnes. Over 80% of the water used in operations is obtained through recycling, with the fresh water make-up entirely dependent on the desalination plant located in Caldera.
Built in the port area of Caldera and commissioned in 2013, the desalination plant has an initial capacity of 500 liters per second. Its operation significantly reduced reliance on terrestrial water sources, ensuring a stable water supply for mineral processing. Lundin Mining's Annual Information Form for fiscal year 2024 indicates that the facility is adjacent to Puerto Punta Padrones, the port used for copper concentrate exports.
Lundin Mining stated in its sustainability report that over 90% of the water used in Candelaria's production process is recycled, and since the desalination plant began operations, 100% of the water required for copper concentrate production comes from desalinated seawater. This model, combining desalination, recycling, and water efficiency, is gaining increasing importance in Chilean mining, driven primarily by declining availability of terrestrial water sources, increasing pressure on watersheds, and regulatory requirements facing new or deferred projects.
The company also indicated that Candelaria has achieved 100% renewable energy power supply, as part of its strategy to reduce the environmental footprint of its operations.
The Candelaria case holds reference value for the Chilean mining industry, as it was an early adopter of the transition from using terrestrial water sources to systems based on seawater, desalination, and recycling. In the northern part of the country, large-scale copper, lithium, and related infrastructure projects face increasingly stringent environmental and social requirements regarding water use, transforming desalination plants from operational supplementary facilities into critical assets that guarantee production continuity.
For the Atacama Region, Candelaria's water infrastructure is directly linked to its operational stability. The operation belongs to the Punta del Cobre district, conducting both open-pit and underground mining activities, primarily producing copper, with gold and silver as by-products.
According to data released by Lundin Mining, Candelaria produced 145,471 tonnes of copper and 80,528 ounces of gold in 2025. For 2026, the company expects attributable copper production from the complex to be between 135,000 and 145,000 tonnes (on a 100% basis), with gold production between 77,000 and 87,000 ounces. The stable supply of desalinated seawater is a structural factor underpinning this production level.
As the Candelaria desalination plant marks its operational anniversary, the Chilean mining industry is facing rising costs, declining availability of terrestrial water sources, and pressure to extend the useful life of existing assets. The industry believes that the future competitiveness of mining operations will depend not only on ore grades or plant capacity, but also on water security, operational efficiency, and the ability to reduce pressure on local watersheds.
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