en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Pampa Elvira Solar Plant celebrates its 13th anniversary of operation. Located in the heart of the Atacama Desert in Chile, this thermal solar project continues to provide clean thermal energy for the copper electrowinning process at the Gabriela Mistral Division (DGM), currently meeting 50% of its external heat demand. Operated by Codelco, the plant was one of the largest thermal solar plants of its kind globally when it began operations in 2013 and was a pioneer in the large-scale integration of solar technology in the mining sector. The plant is equipped with 2,928 solar panels, with a collector area of 44,000 square meters, equivalent to approximately 90 football fields, and includes a 4,600 cubic meter hot water storage tank.

Álvaro Bacian, a mine supply specialist engineer, stated that the plant's main contribution is providing a sustainable and reliable energy source for operations. Thanks to this system, the plant reduces approximately 12,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually and has maintained near-perfect availability throughout its 13 years of operation.

Jorge Escudero, contract administrator for the Pampa Elvira Solar Plant at the mine, highlighted the project's ongoing consolidation and its environmental contributions over the years. Over these 13 years, the plant has maintained continuous and reliable operation, supplying the required heat and replacing approximately 50% of the previous diesel consumption. This has reduced environmental emissions and demonstrated that such renewable energy sources can indeed be successfully integrated.

Thanks to its thermal energy storage system, the plant leverages optimal climatic conditions with high solar radiation to provide continuous heat supply 24 hours a day. One of the main impacts of this initiative is the positioning of Gabriela Mistral's cathode copper in terms of sustainability, a product recognized both nationally and internationally for its low carbon footprint and responsible traceability. Carlos Astudillo, the mine's Environmental and Territorial Manager, emphasized that this work earned the "Huella Chile 2024" seal from Chile's Ministry of the Environment. This recognition positions Gaby cathode copper as a premium product with a low carbon footprint and high sustainability standards, making the mine the first mining operation in Chile to obtain this certification for its cathode copper.

The project has also excelled in safety, achieving zero workplace accidents during its operation, consolidating a management model focused on sustainability and personnel care. These achievements have brought other recognitions to the mine in terms of responsible production, such as the international "The Copper Mark" certification and the Chain of Custody certification, which attest to the good practices and traceability of the copper produced by Gabriela Mistral.

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