Equipment Components
Equipping Chile’s circular economy
A circular economy aims to maximize value and minimize waste throughout all stages of extraction and processing. It emphasizes the preservation of natural resources by extending the lifespan of extracted minerals. This approach operates within a systemic framework that necessitates collaboration within the industry and with other market players, who can be engaged to capture and share value.
The circular economy has gained traction in the Latin American mining industry in recent years due to the industry’s increased focus on environmental impact. “The top five priorities in the mining industry for the past five years have all been related to sustainability,” said Mauro Mezzano, founding partner and Co-CEO at Vantaz.
A circular economy enables mining companies to not only control the environmental and social impacts of their operations but also adopt measures to minimize negative effects. It encourages sharing best practices and reducing waste, thereby fostering more sustainable and responsible mining practices.
The concept has funneled down into the pipes within the mining industry. Pipe and valve manufacturer Valmet is finding new ways to repurpose components that would originally be considered waste. “We are exploring the reuse of filtering fabrics in mining once they reach the end of their useful life. Valmet is currently investigating methods to recycle these fabrics in Finland to produce value-added products,” said Gonzalo Silva, regional manager flow control business line at the firm.
Another pipe and valve manufacturer, Fastpack, has been attempting to improve their waste generation. “In 2022, we achieved a 55% recovery rate of our waste, and we improved this figure to 65% in 2023, directly attributing this progress to our increased recycling efforts and commitment to the circular economy,” said Pedro Urzua, general manager at Fastpack.
“Innovation is critical. It is not sufficient to merely open new mines; we must embrace advanced extraction techniques, including chloride leaching and bioprocessing, as seen in BHP's initiatives, and the comprehensive recycling of tailings.”
Pedro Urzúa, General Manager, FastPack
One of the greatest lost resources in the mining industry is energy. This is especially true for copper , said Sergio Zamorano, CEO of FAM: “The focus of copper mining is predominantly on production, with less concern for energy efficiency. This reflects a broader issue within the South American mining industry, where the need for energy efficiency, crucial for minimizing environmental impact, has yet to be fully acknowledged and addressed.”
Finding ways to reduce and conserve energy will be one of the most significant advances for the circular economy in the Chilean mining industry. The problem, however, is well understood. Carlos Lahura, managing director, Andean region at bearing manufacturer SKF noted: “Approximately 20% of all energy generated worldwide is used to overcome friction in various industrial processes, primarily in rotating machinery. By reducing friction, our bearings enable substantial energy savings across industries, including mining, manufacturing and transportation.”
SKF has integrated the circular economy into the fabric of its decisions, introducing Circular Service Contracts in 2024, to prolong the life of bearings and components through maintenance and remanufacturing, using monitoring to predict failures and minimize new material use, waste, and energy consumption. “Our solutions have demonstrated energy efficiency improvements of up to 30%,” said Lahura.
Mitigating friction will help to overcome energy inefficiency. ANDRITZ offers technologies to extend the use life of wearing parts and reduce service maintenance of mechanical components via application of very high-resistance coating materials, said Fernando Tobar, manager of equipment and services of solid/liquid separation LATAM: “This technology has a large number of applications in the mining industry, specially oriented to all parts and components subject to friction, abrasion or wear and tear. We work closely with mining trucks as they have hydraulic cylinders subject to continuous wear."
“Reducing the carbon footprint means redesigning our products so that the raw materials have a low carbon footprint. During the construction phase we provide circular solutions for the tools we offer.”
José Luis Villalón Spoerer, General Manager, Hilti Chile
Andrés Rojas, director of automatization and digitalization LATAM, highlighted the role of Chile’s circular economy within this: “ANDRITZ has three global workshops with the capability to extend the useful life of components: Chile, Germany, and India. Chile is a reference for the region in the application of this type of technology.”
Recycling initiatives are being wheeled into the Chilean mining industry from all sides, Rafael Santo, country manager Chile, Peru and Bolivia at tire manufacturing giant Michelin, said: “By 2050, our goal is to manufacture tires that are 100% made from recycled or renewable materials. Our intermediate goal is to reach 40% by 2030, and we are currently at 28%.”
The bottleneck, he says, is recycling carbon black, which constitutes between 20% and 25% of a tire and is derived from petroleum products, making it non-renewable. The other 80% of tires include natural rubber, which is renewable and has a sustainable cultivation chain, and synthetic rubber, which is moving towards sustainability through methods that use recycled PET bottles. The company is working in partnership with Bridgestone to develop a sustainable carbon black supply chain.
The shift towards a circular economy in the Chilean mining industry not only showcases innovative practices and sustainable development but also aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and promote resource efficiency.
“Our recycling program involves separating plastic from copper and reprocessing it to produce cables. By recycling copper, we not only address potential shortages but also reduce our environmental impact.”
Camilo Elton, CEO, Madeco by Nexans
Article header image courtesy of Valmet