en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chile's state-owned copper company Codelco's Ventanas smelter, after its closure, is transitioning towards an industrial circular economy and capability transformation, exploring new paths such as converting slag into aggregates, processing recycled copper, and promoting community projects.
Claudio Flores Álvarez, Manager of Personnel and Safety at Codelco Ventanas, presented at the 6th International Planning for Closure Conference how the division is simultaneously advancing the closure plan for the decommissioned facility and strengthening operations at the electrolytic refinery, aiming to leverage the infrastructure, technical knowledge, and human resources available after the smelter's shutdown.
The division is promoting the reuse and sale of copper slag, also known as iron silicate, as a synthetic aggregate. Flores explained that this progress was driven by coordinated efforts from government agencies, academia, and the community, enabling the implementation of a new regulation in February that permits its use. Flores noted that while the reuse of slag is well-known in countries such as the United States, Germany, Sweden, and Spain, regulations in Chile had to be amended to initiate reuse projects. The new regulation represents a significant step in this regard, serving as an important legacy for addressing this legacy issue from a circular economy perspective and reimagining it as an asset with environmental and social value.
Following the reduction in anode supply due to the smelter's closure, the Ventanas electrolytic refinery is assessing the technical and economic feasibility of processing recycled copper, utilizing the available capacity of a new rotary kiln. Flores pointed out that, facing this new situation, the division has rethought the future of the Ventanas division, fully leveraging its assets and personnel capabilities. Globally, 30% to 35% of the copper used annually comes from recycling. Chile exports 40,000 to 50,000 tons of copper scrap each year without processing it, and the division has identified an opportunity to supply cathodes produced from processing these recycled materials to the market. This approach aligns with the concept of urban mining.
During the closure process, the division also developed community initiatives tailored to the needs of residents in Quintero and Puchuncaví, including the Técnicos del Futuro project (providing higher technical education options for young people in both municipalities), Ventanas Ilumina (located in Puchuncaví), and Ventanas te Cuida (located in Quintero), which are related to community safety and well-being.
Flores concluded that the closure process has forced the division to rethink its capabilities and explore new development paths. When the closure of a mining operation is carried out with foresight, transparency, and responsibility, it does not extinguish an operation but rather opens a new phase for innovation and leaves a legacy for the region and the industry. The closure of the Ventanas smelter has been a driving force behind numerous innovation and sustainability challenges.
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