A mining company can contribute in two important ways to confront climate change: the first is by producing copper, a fundamental input for sustainable technologies; and the second, progressively decarbonizing its operation. That is why, as of January 2022, Minera Antucoya took a fundamental step in this matter by building the first charging station for electric vehicles on site and initiating a personnel transportation contract with the incorporation of a 100% electric taxibus.
This challenge responds to the Climate Change Strategy of the Mining Group, a plan that considers within its next lines of action in the short term, virtual and real piloting of electric vehicles on external and internal routes, in addition to evaluating the use of hybrid or electric vehicles , exploring business models that allow its feasibility.
“We are extremely pleased to be part of this project that is in line with the Electromobility roadmap of our company and the Mining Group. We are committed to developing a better future together by advancing towards carbon-neutrality, and this is a new step for it”, expressed the General Manager of Minera Antucoya, Leonardo González.
The delivery of the first “electrolinera” of Minera Antucoya is scheduled for March of this year, and the transport vehicle will start operating from the month of April, while it completes its evaluation and testing process to begin adding new machines of this type. type successively.
Carbon Neutrality
During 2021, Minera Antucoya carried out tests with electric buses to replace diesel on bus routes from Antofagasta to the site, however, they were unsatisfactory due to the lack of autonomy of the machines on journeys of more than two and a half hours, due to the absence of “electrolineras” on the road for recharging energy.
It should be noted that the transition to electromobility began at Minera Antucoya, to contribute to Antofagasta Minerals’ goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and thus achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
“We are going to start a study to see the feasibility of modifying the Caex trucks to 100% electric equipment through the incorporation of a battery pack to replace the diesel engine, in addition to validating their electrification system,” explained the General Manager , regarding this project that has a potential reduction of 55,767 tons of CO2 for the entire truck fleet of the mine.
This technical feasibility study will be carried out at Minera Antucoya in conjunction with the Center for Sustainable Acceleration of Electromobility (CASE), led by the University of Chile, the Energy Sustainability Agency and the Mario Molina Center. The research will also have the participation of the VTT technological research and development center in Finland.
