Freeport files EIA for continuity of El Abra operations plus switch to desal water supply

Freeport has filed the Environmental Impact Assessment application with Chile’s SEIA for the future of El Abra – the filing is titled ‘Operational continuity of Minera El Abra and development of concentrator plant with water transition to desalinated water.’

The US$7.5 billion project considers the extension of the current operations of the Sulfolix sulphide heap leaching project, the development of a new copper sulphide exploitation and processing concentrator and the incorporation of a new water source for industrial use. With these actions, it is planned to extend the operation of the site for an additional 40 years, with an approximate extraction of 8,400 Mt of material from the pit, according to the associated mining plan.

Among its main works and actions, the project contemplates the expansion of the pit; the development of the permanent leach pad at height; the construction and operation of a concentrator plant with an ore processing capacity of 300,000 t/d and a thickened tailings deposit.

In order to make the water transition to desalinated water, it will be necessary to temporarily keep the current Salar de Ascotán well field in operation, while the construction and operation of a desalination plant and its respective impulsion and transport system is completed. This system will operate through two routes: the desalinated water aqueduct and the interconnection aqueduct.

In the mine area, the project also incorporates the extension of the Lastre 02 dump, the implementation of a new dump called Lastre 07, the modification of the Lastre 04 dump, the enabling of three sectors of temporary ore stockpiles and the installation of a new conveyor belt between the mine and the concentrator.
For its part, the current solvent extraction and electrowinning plant of the leach line will expand its production of high-grade copper cathodes, maintaining a nominal processing capacity of 115,000 t/d and an average annual production rate of 225,000 t of fine copper.

Finally, to ensure the correct execution of the project, the implementation of various auxiliary works is considered to provide land access, electricity supply, and facilities for adequate and centralised waste management.