Can you introduce us to Metso Outotec?

Metso Outotec was created out of the merger of Metso and Outotec. However, the company recently announced that it will retake the Metso name. Latin America is a very important region for Metso, as it represents 20% of our sales concentration. We have offices and facilities across Chile, Peru, and Brazil, enabling us to be close to our customers. Our largest foundry plant in the region is Sorocaba, which can supply steel elements to Chile and Peru, and Chile is home to the largest casing plant but also with other in Peru and Brasil. We also have pump manufacturing and assembly stations in Brazil and Peru, as well as repair centers in all the countries where we operate.

Can you give us an overview of Metso's activities in 2022 and early 2023?

2022 was a strong year for the company. Over the last two years, global supply demonstrated the risks of interdependence on a global level due to logistical complications. In this context, we started to expand our local capabilities by investing in expansion of facilities and starting our recycling and repair capabilities, and also increasing the pump and casing production.

Anther interesting subject is highly efficient equipment with planet positive impact. As an example, we recently won a contract with Collahuasi for a type of flotation cell to minimize energy consumption and maximize ore recovery. We have also worked with Codelco to upgrade crushers developed 40 years ago and maximize efficiency.

How has digitalization affected mining?

Ore grades are declining. If the ore cannot be processed accurately, it is difficult to achieve effective and profitable production. Data analysis is fundamental to achieving this, as it allows us to exploit deposits at the right time and in the right sequence. As for the equipment, it is important to monitor it in real-time to minimize failures and avoid process interruptions. We have a remote monitoring center that allows us to deploy the best people to control the equipment and make it more efficient. This also has facilitated the involvement of experts who cannot be directly on-site. Metso offers various digital tools that simplify the work for people and even reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting personnel to work areas, which in the case of mining are often remote.

What kind of sustainability initiatives has Metso taken?

Mill liners generate large amounts of waste. Metso has therefore developed initiatives to recycle them. This year we installed a recycling plant, and our goal is to reuse 100% of the rubber. We have also set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and have already started installing solar panels in many of our facilities. Metso has also started to work with small local companies on the reuse of our waste.

One example to highlight is with El Teniente mine, one of Codelco’s divisions, which has joined us in one sustainable action towards strengthening the circular economy in Chile’s mining industry. We have retired more than 80 tons of used mill liners from that operation, that will be used as raw material for the elaboration of new liners for El Teniente´s plant, helping them to achieve their environmental KPI’s.

Also, we have measured our carbon footprint in Chile and South America. Based on that information, we established a target of 7% reduction in carbon emission in our operations in the Region for this year 2023.

What are your goals for the coming year?

Metso is committed to the expansion of our local infrastructure. Our CEO, Pekka Vauramo, announced during his visit to South America in April, that the company is investing more than 20 million euros for the expansion of Brasil, Chile and Peru services and production infrastructure, with a focus on the manufacturing of HRC and screens and in the repairing of HPGR, and there are a set of other investments to continue developing our local capacity.

Second, we will increase our recycling capacity and sustainability initiatives. And finally, we intend to implement initiatives to attract and retain diverse and skilled talent.