en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chile's Minera Zaldívar announced at the opening of Exponor 2026 an investment of over $900 million in its "Life Extension and Water Transformation" project, which includes building a pipeline to bring treated water into the production process starting in 2028, an initiative expected to extend operations until 2051.
The company announced this strategic decision at a ceremony attended by employees, executives, and leaders including Dual Minister of Economy, Promotion, Tourism and Mining Daniel Mas, Minister of National Assets Catalina Parot, Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation Ximena Lincolao, and Antofagasta Minerals CEO Iván Arriagada. It was announced that a contract had been signed with Econssa to build a 163-kilometer pipeline to transport treated water from the city of Antofagasta to a delivery point near the La Negra area, then into the mine. The city of Antofagasta uses 100% desalinated water for human consumption.
The project will begin preliminary works in July, with the construction peak in 2027 creating up to 5,000 jobs. Antofagasta Minerals CEO Iván Arriagada stated that this milestone means employment, supplier opportunities, and advancing sustainable mining. Dual Minister of Economy, Promotion, Tourism and Mining Daniel Mas congratulated Minera Zaldívar on its 31st anniversary, noting that it currently creates 4,000 jobs, and the project could add another 5,000, aligning with growth targets and respecting environmental regulations.
Pipeline operations are scheduled to begin in July 2028, marking that all companies of the mining group in the Antofagasta region will produce copper without using continental water. Antofagasta Regional Governor Ricardo Díaz stated that Minera Zaldívar plays a key role in the region's development and growth. Since 1995, the operation has employed approximately 4,000 people, produces about 80,000 tons of copper annually, and does business with over 200 local suppliers each year. Minera Zaldívar General Manager María de la Luz Osses stated that 60% of employees come from the region, and the project will require up to 5,000 people.
The pipeline will transport approximately 200 liters per second, with pipe diameters between 18 and 20 inches; two 30-kilometer power lines will supply three pumping stations, lifting water from 500 meters to 3,200 meters above sea level. Additionally, advanced technology will be deployed for remote operation, continuous monitoring, and automatic leak detection and emergency response systems. Antofagasta Mayor Sacha Razmilic stated that the company's announcement of operating with treated water means extending its life by another 25 years, providing more jobs, improving the economy, and being part of the environmental protection chain. Through the water transformation plan, Antofagasta Minerals reaffirms its commitment to sustainable mining, enabling all its companies in the region to produce copper without using continental water.
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