Safety, efficiency and partnership
During the construction phase of the project, 20 months were recorded with no lost-time incidents while the final Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) was 0.18, which places the project amongst the safest in the Chilean mining industry.
The desalination plant consumes up to 30% less energy than equivalent plants worldwide, and has been conceived and designed with respect and protection for the environment at the forefront.
And that was achieved by establishing a permanent dialogue with surrounding communities.
We worked together with representatives of six unions of the Unión de Trabajadores Independientes del Mar (Independent Unions of Seafarers) of Chañaral. This constant and direct communication with local communities has also opened doors for future projects in the region using similar technologies.
John Norrish, the desalination plant´s Project Manager said: “The success of this project consisted not only in delivering a world class desalination facility. It was also based on our focus on safety, meeting environmental commitments, and building sustainable relationships with the authorities, local communities and fishermen through formal dialogue and open engagement processes.”
Daniela Araya, Environment Advisor for the project agreed that partnership was key to Mantoverde’s success.
“The relationship with communities was outstanding. To achieve this there has been a constant work throughout the time of construction of the plant.”
The completion of Mantoverde’s desalination plant is part of a company-wide effort to conduct responsible water stewardship in all our countries of operation.
Every Anglo American operation works towards a water reduction target that was determined in 2011 using our water-efficiency target tool (WETT). It forecasts the projected business-as-usual demand of individual operations and also registers water-savings projects.
By the end of 2013, we had achieved an estimated 22% saving against our projected water usage.
And that’s why the Mantoverde desalination plant is so important.
It demonstrates how local partnerships and collaboration can be key to effective water management, keeping communities healthy and maintaining the harmony of the local ecosystem.
