What projects was TAKRAF Group involved in during 2023?

2023 was an exceptional year for TAKRAF Group. We were able to secure great new projects, but unfortunately, these were not in South America. The teams in Chile and Peru were active in 2023 in terms of Brownfield projects. In operations where we already have equipment, we worked on improvement and optimization projects.

We are about to complete the expansion of the world’s most powerful conveyor belt system at Chuquicamata underground. In addition, we are also working with one of the largest copper mines in Peru, where we are supplying a new transport system. What challenges did the Chuquicamata project pose, and how did TAKRAF overcome them?

Chuquicamata underground heralds a significant leap in mining and material handling technology. Our belt conveyor system, a key component of this project, not only set a new benchmark by being the most powerful of its kind worldwide, but also embodied innovation with the introduction of the ST10000 steel cord belt and advanced gearless drive technology from our drive partner, ABB. This system efficiently transports crushed copper ore from deep underground to the surface, spanning a 7 km tunnel that overcomes 1 km of vertical elevation, culminating in a 6 km overland journey to the distribution silo.

This project was a challenge due to its scale, the integration of cutting-edge technologies, and the technical hurdles encountered both during the implementation phase and ongoing operations. The collaboration between operators, suppliers, and our team was pivotal in overcoming these obstacles, fostering a robust communication network that ensured the project's success and operational continuity. The development and successful implementation of the ST 10000 steel cord belt, tailored specifically for this endeavor, represents a milestone, now available for any system. Our engagement with the belt's developers is also ongoing. How will collaboration help the industry?

Collaboration is essential among all parties involved, including stakeholders, clients, and even competitors. While direct technology development with competitors is not feasible, open communication on various topics is. Collaboration is transversal. What technologies is TAKRAF Group focusing on?

We are focused on further improving our equipment and solutions offering, particularly technologies such as our sizer. The sizer, a comminution technology, is a low profile, lightweight, and efficient piece of comminution equipment originating from the coal industry. Our goal is to extend this technology further, making it increasingly effective for hard rock mining applications. Additionally, our focus extends to monitoring and control, especially considering complex fire incidents on some conveyor belts. To improve system oversight, we have strengthened our collaborations with providers of monitoring systems, aiming for superior control and safety measures.

Digital twins offer significant potential for mimicking the operation of our equipment and enabling performance simulations under a range of conditions. What are the benefits of High-Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR)?

The HPGR is not a silver bullet, but where applicable is a tremendous addition in milling circuits. It has been proven and demonstrated to work effectively, saving a lot of energy and water. The fact that size reduction is achieved through compression rather than impact also benefits downstream processes. What is your outlook on Dry Stack Tailings (DST)?

It holds vast potential, not only in mitigating risks, of which safety is paramount, but also in reducing spatial requirements. DST initially faced challenges such as developing filters large enough to accommodate production volumes. Despite these hurdles, the industry has made significant progress. Large-scale filters are now operational in Peru, with new implementations underway in Chile. TAKRAF, together with our respected DELKOR liquid/solid separation brand, is a one-stop DST solutions provider. How does TAKRAF Group improve sustainability in operations?

We continue to focus on enhancing the gearless drive technology as an example of direct reduction in energy consumption. Also, our proprietary MAXGen mechanism for our BQR flotation cells not only improves metallurgical performance but also reduces specific power consumption. Further to our range of DELKOR dewatering solutions, we are furthering our DST solutions, which means increased safety and reduced water consumption. We have initiatives to recycle the wear parts from our sizer, leading to lower raw material consumption in the long term. All these initiatives are being undertaken concurrently and in conjunction with a policy to reduce our carbon footprint across our operations.