en.Wedoany.com Reported - Escondida | Sergio Burdiles, BHP's Technology Director, stated during the BHP Coffee & Mining event held at Exponor 2026 that the key in the mining industry lies not in adopting new technological tools themselves, but in using them to solve specific problems and enhance personnel capabilities.
Senior executives from the world's largest copper mine, with an annual output exceeding one million tons, discussed the challenges the industry faces in integrating digital capabilities, talent, and operational excellence amid technological transformation.
Burdiles emphasized that innovation only generates value when it is connected to operational processes and on-site decision-makers. With an early interest in computers and technology, he has always focused on linking technological elements with people. A civil industrial engineer from the Universidad de Chile and a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Burdiles has over 20 years of experience in innovation projects in Chile, the United States, and Japan. His international experience has shown him that other regions of the world regard Chilean mining as a benchmark.
Burdiles believes that Escondida is one of the world's leading mining innovation spaces, where many technologies later expanded to other operations are tested and developed. The technology field has evolved from a traditional support role to a strategic function, aiming to connect operational needs with innovative solutions.
Currently, Escondida deploys over 50,000 sensors across different production processes, generating approximately 1.5 billion records daily. This information is processed to optimize operational decisions. Burdiles stressed that value lies not in the quantity of information, but in the ability to convert data into concrete actions.
In terms of safety and efficiency, equipment such as autonomous drills now perform with greater precision than manual operations, increasing productivity and reducing personnel exposure to hazardous conditions. Burdiles believes that when discussing the impact and ethical issues of artificial intelligence, people must be placed at the center of decision-making. He compared the current moment to the changes during the Industrial Revolution, noting that the focus remains on humans. Looking ahead, Burdiles believes that, with its operational scale and innovation ecosystem, Chile is well-positioned to continue leading the global mining industry in adopting new technologies.
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