Flexible Foundations
Modular solutions to meet the demands of high-altitude mining
Infrastructure and logistics companies face unique challenges in Chile, with mines high in the Andes at up to 4 km above sea level, and thousands of workers required to be on-site at any one time. For these companies to adapt and survive, they are innovating new solutions to better serve the mining industry’s needs. This includes using modular camps and infrastructure that make transportation easier between the remote locations of mines.
Promet constructs camps for many of the major mining companies in Chile and Peru and deals in every aspect of camp life, including food, water and energy. “By offering modular services, we allow for flexibility and sustainability, making investments more efficient. Instead of clients investing heavily in infrastructure that they may not need later, we invest in scalable solutions, moving assets between projects as necessary,” commented Cristobal Schneider, the CEO of Promet, continuing: “We offer flexible business models, such as renting camps instead of selling them, to accommodate fluctuating labor demands during construction and operation phases.”
Similarly, Tecno Fast built camps for mines like Centinela. Cristian Goldberg Aichele, general manager, said: “Tecno Fast is already fully prepared for increased demand in modular services, benefiting from years of steady work, a strong internal talent that have allowed it to maintain skilled teams in essential roles and last but not least, our solid financial support to overtake big and complex projects. The company has significant installed factory capacity, with three factories in Chile and a fourth set to open in Puerto Varas in April, further enhancing its ability to meet high demand.”
Modular construction company Tarpulin works with ports, logistics, and mining companies, witnessing much growth in modular floors over the last few years, which are manufactured with recycled plastic. The company is looking to open an injection plant in Antofagasta, both to help with sustainability and also to be closer to clients, making it easier to adapt to the conditions of each mine. “This will eliminate transporting plastic waste from Antofagasta to Santiago for crushing, cleaning, and injection. This will enable us to carry out the entire recycling process from receiving waste and transforming it into sustainable recycled floors, locally in Antofagasta,” highlighted CEO Pablo Rosales.
DEX specializes in the manufacturing of high-resistance, patented modular industrial flooring. Their association with Tarpulin to reduce the cost and improve the quality of modular flooring has been pivotal for getting the company recognition in the industry. “DEX floors are utilized in Chile's primary mining operations due to their high resistance and rapid installation. Four individuals can install 1 km2 in a single day, making our solutions highly cost-efficient, accelerating construction timelines, and significantly reducing CapEx,” explained Francisco Cruz Quiroga, CEO of DEX.
As modular services become more popular, companies in the infrastructure space only stand to benefit from preparing now. “The rise of modular products and the impending mining boom present opportunities across multiple fronts, revitalizing the entire mining value chain, including its providers,” added Cruz Quiroga.
Benefitting from the increase in modular services is the heavy lifting and transportation company Mammoet. In 2024, Mammoet’s flagship project was the relocation of a crusher plant at the Radimiro Tomic mine, and the company is evolving in its offerings to ensure all types of mines and geographies are catered for. Vanessa Labana, head of business development for Mammoet Chile, noted: “We are aligning our services with the growing copper and lithium sectors by shifting from standard transport to tailored heavy-lifting solutions. Our studies evaluate construction methods, port access, and transport routes.”
Despite tough years in the Chilean market, steel structures business EDYCE remains hopeful that the many projects which companies have slated for the coming years cannot be delayed much longer, and thus their services will be required more in 2025. “We worked for many years in developing our modularization offerings, and that has been one of the main services that have allowed us to obtain work that we otherwise would not have gotten. We are building big modules and are exploring joint ventures with companies that provide mechanical or electrical equipment,” said Tomás Fischer, CEO of EDYCE.
Chile’s mining sector relies on adaptable, sustainable infrastructure to meet the challenges of remote, high-altitude sites. Modular construction, localized services, and innovative logistics are enabling efficient operations and long-term flexibility across projects, supporting the industry’s growth in copper, lithium and beyond. As mining moves towards a more sustainable future where projects will need to be deconstructed just as fast as they are implemented, modular infrastructure and the accompanying logistics will be vital to the industry.
Article header image courtesy of Tarpulin