en.Wedoany.com Reported - Lundin Mining has officially joined the Chilean Association for Seawater Desalination and Reuse (ACADES), leveraging this platform to strengthen experience exchange in sustainable water resource management and technological innovation.

To formally confirm this membership, an ACADES delegation, led by President Alberto Kresse and accompanied by board members and professionals, visited Lundin Mining Candelaria's seawater desalination plant in Caldera. Lundin Mining Candelaria CEO Leonardo González, Lundin Mining Infrastructure Vice President Eduardo Flores, and the company's Sustainability Director Ximena Matas received the delegation and introduced the facility's operational characteristics.

Lundin Mining Candelaria has operated the first seawater desalination plant in the Atacama region since 2013, and it was among the first ten in the country. The facility currently meets 100% of the water demand for copper concentrate production.

ACADES President Alberto Kresse stated that Lundin Mining's membership is a significant step for Chile's mining industry, particularly in the Atacama region, reflecting the importance of the 13-year-old desalination plant for regional development and growth. He also noted the need to continue advancing related work in the context of new legislation being developed in Chile.

Lundin Mining Infrastructure Vice President Eduardo Flores indicated that this move consolidates Lundin Mining's vision of achieving regional integration in Chile and collaborating with other companies to advance future growth processes, while also strengthening its commitment to the region, including the workforce and human capital required for efficient infrastructure operations.

Lundin Mining Candelaria CEO Leonardo González emphasized the value of this alliance, stating that becoming an ACADES member presents an opportunity for synergy and sharing best practices, complementing the sustainable operational philosophy upheld since the plant began operations in 2013. Since that year, the company has used 100% desalinated seawater and aims to continuously improve processes through collaboration with ACADES.

Currently, Lundin Mining Candelaria's recycled water utilization rate averages over 90%, ranking among the highest in Chile's mining industry, with water consumption per ton of ore processed below the national industry average. Through this membership, Lundin Mining and ACADES aim to jointly promote policies, technologies, and projects that facilitate the use of desalinated seawater.