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  • Pages
  • Editions
01 Cover
02 Welcome Letter / Sections
03 Article & Interview Directory
04 Section 1: Introduction
05 An Evolving Constitutional Landscape
06 Chile Ministry of Mining Interview
07 Consejo Minero Interview
08 APRIMIN Interview
09 Expert Opinion Article: Francisco Acuña, CRU
10 Expert Insights: Chile’s Evolving Sociopolitical Landscape
11 ESG & Renewable Energy
12 ICMM Interview
13 Aggreko Interview
14 Mining Investment Climate
15 Appian Capital Advisory Interview
16 Expert Insights: Attracting Sustainable Investment
17 Section 2: Production & Development
18 Copper Production & Development
19 BHP Interview
20 Antofagasta PLC Interview
21 Freeport McMoRan Interview
22 Teck Resources Limited Interview
23 Amerigo Resources Interview
24 Precious Metals
25 Kinross Interview
26 Rio2 Limited Interview
27 Lithium
28 SQM Interview
29 Albemarle Interview
30 Section 3: Junior Exploration
31 Study-stage Copper Projects
32 Expert Insights: Chile's Junior Exploration Community
33 World Copper Limited Interview
34 Early-stage Opportunities
35 ATEX Resources Interview
36 Torq Resources Interview
37 Pampa Metals Interview
38 VerAI Discoveries Interview
39 Lithium Exploration and Development
40 Lithium Chile Interview
41 Wealth Minerals Interview
42 Monumental Minerals Interview
43 Section 4: Engineering, Construction & Consultancies
44 Engineering & Consultancies
45 Water and the Environment
46 JRI Interview
47 Wood Interview
48 SRK Consulting Interview
49 Construction & Contractors
50 Sigdo Koppers Interview
51 Züblin Strabag Interview
52 Echeverría Izquierdo Interview
53 Thiess Interview
54 Going Underground
55 Master Drilling Interview
56 Robbins Interview
57 INCIMMET Interview
58 Section 5: Equipment & Technology
59 The Evolution of Mining Equipment
60 Scania Interview
61 Expert Insights: OEMs on Sustainability and Innovation
62 Comminution & Material Handling
63 Metso Outotec Interview
64 ME Elecmetal Interview
65 TAKRAF Interview
66 Haver & Boecker Interview
67 Innovation & Technology
68 Hexagon Interview
69 DSI Underground Interview
70 Dingo Interview
71 Pipes, Valves, Components & Wear Protection
72 Hofmann Engineering Interview
73 Expert Insights: The Benefits of AI and Automation
74 Section 6: Services
75 Drilling & Blasting
76 Geotec Boyles Bros Interview
77 Enaex Interview
78 Services
79 SGS Interview
80 Section 7: Sponsored Company Profiles
81 FreePort-McMoRan Profile
82 Rio2 Company Profile
83 Lithium Chile Profile
84 Metso Outotec Company Profile
85 SGS Company Profile
86 Credits

Dave Lawson, President – Mining & Metals,

WOOD

"Projects are going to get bigger and more expensive due to the amount of rock we have to mine and move around to produce the copper needed to meet the demand, especially as ore grades are declining."

Can you tell us about Wood’s work at some of the emblematic Chilean mining projects in the last year?

Our role as the integration contractor for BHP’s new copper concentrator at the Spence mine – BHP’s second largest deposit in Chile after Escondida – is a great example. We still have a small team on site, but we’ve effectively and successfully completed the integration. We are also just finishing a lithium project for a client in the north of Chile which has been extremely successful.

We are currently involved in a number of projects, the biggest of which are Codelco’s Chuquicamata project, where we are doing the detailed design for underground mining and early works for Antofagasta Minerals’ Minera Centinela project. We are also involved in a significant amount of proposal study work and have long-term engineering contracts with mining companies in Chile.

What are some of the key considerations for mining companies looking to source water for operations?

From a broad water perspective, looking at new mines in Chile, I would expect that all are going to use seawater of some description – whether it is desalinated water used as potable water or non-desalinated water used in processes. If you want to use seawater, the materials for construction have to be different because salt water is highly corrosive. The cost analysis also needs to be considered as desalination plants can become incredibly expensive, as well as the need to replace materials on a more frequent basis than what you would do otherwise. We have to reduce water consumption and find ways to use every liter of water multiple times, and Wood can contribute engineering solutions for both water management and recycling.

Can you elaborate on what Wood’s ‘Mine 2050’ concept aims to achieve?

The energy transition starts and ends with mining. There is a huge mismatch between the world’s climate ambitions and the availability of critical future-facing metals needed to resource the energy transition. If you look at the demand of copper alone, in order to achieve the net-zero 2050 targets, analysts suggest it will take around 19 million tons of additional copper. The largest copper mine in the world is Escondida, and that figure equates to a new Escondida that must be discovered and entered production every year for the next 20 years to meet the projected increase in demand, bearing in mind it currently takes 12 to 15 years to move a mine into production. Progress has to be achieved faster, better and safer, and Wood is supremely focused on the solutions we can provide to address the urgency and achieve those net zero target and support our clients as they look to reach their sustainability goals. This includes working on digital technologies related to the energy transition, such as carbon capture, and developing integrated energy solutions through the deployment of our renewables arm.

What type of renewable energy projects do you expect to play a role in the development of mining?

I believe that all renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar, green and blue hydrogen will play a role. For example, Wood is doing work for a client in Chile to supply hydrogen for all their trucks. We have a division that specializes in hydrogen development. We also have the ability to deliver renewable solutions to reduce the carbon intensity of mining operations.

Which areas of Chile’s mining business do you see as having the strongest potential for growth for Wood?

Projects are going to get bigger and more expensive due to the amount of rock we have to mine and move around to produce the copper needed to meet the demand, especially as ore grades are declining. As a global company we can harness a broad range of expertise along with a diverse range of cross-sector solutions to ensure our clients’ operations are future-ready, efficient and sustainable. Finally, we have a strong digital technology division, which I believe will see significant growth in the coming years as mines become green and integrate value added technologies into their operations. Digital twins are in particularly high demand. In summary, as the world’s needs and our clients’ needs continue to evolve so will our solutions. Our track record of managing mega projects along with our know-how in digitalization and automation will see Wood’s presence in Chile continue to grow.

Next:

Interview: SRK Consulting