Operating in South America poses unique challenges, as the continent has high altitudes and extreme hot and cold weather, combined with dust and steep gradients, says dust control company Dust-A-Side.

Dust-A-Side Chile GM Ramón Rada says the company is operating at mines in South America that have haul roads 4.600 m above sea level, with severe winter conditions for six months of the year. He adds that temperatures can sometimes drop to -20 °C, with snow up to 4 m deep.

“The high-altitude mountainous conditions force production ramps to sometimes be more than 12% steep on a hard base of road,” he says.

Another key challenge facing mining operations in South America is the scale of activity. Rada says Chile probably has the most concentrated mine industry in the region, but several factors, including complex logistics networks, desert and dune landscapes and glaciers affect operations.

He notes that language barriers also present an issue and a local partner is highly advisable.

“Mining in the Andes [mountain range], for example cannot be understood until it has been experienced first-hand,” says Rada, adding that it can be likened to an extreme mining adventure.

Dust-A-Side Chile is operating in the commodity sectors of copper and molybdenum in South America, with its scope of work also including dust control and haul-road maintenance.

“Our operations currently stand at a network of more than 150 km of industrial road, with a total surface area of 1.05-million square metres, and 24.5 km of haul road, with a total surface area of 882 000 m2, which is distributed among the Chile-based mines of Los Pelambres, Los Bronces and Andina,” Rada states.

The contracts for dust control and haul road maintenance were awarded to the company in 2011, 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Rada tells Mining Weekly that services provided by Dust-A-Side are not necessarily popular because they are deemed essential. However, the customised services are site-specific to match clients’ operational requirements. “We deliver a dust-control solution to achieve approval in terms of environmental legislation,” he says.

It took Dust-A-Side six months to get its first contract in Chile – awarded in 2011. “After this contract award, we received immediate recognition from the mining industry, which has led to Dust-A-Side registering a consistent growth rate and success in consolidating the relationship with our local partner,” says Rada.

He notes that Dust-A-Side’s business is not about the product, but rather about the knowledge, expertise and the people working together to produce their best and to ensure that they are striving to achieve the same task.

Further, the ability to “follow your client” adds to Dust-A-Side’s success in Chile, Rada says.

“To be a global role player, you need to perform in the world’s most prominent mining districts,” he notes, adding that, to be considered a world leader in dust-control management requires flexibility, mobility and adaptability.
“We think global and we perform local,” Rada states.

Better Year Ahead
Rada notes that while the Chilean mining industry is currently depressed, environmental sustainability cannot be discarded from the mining plan: “Dust-control management services are key and essential issues for mining productivity and operational continuity.

“We are expecting a better year than what we experienced in 2014,” adds Rada.

With Chile having been a springboard into the region, Rada says

Dust-A-Side has established offices in Peru and Brazil to ensure it can offer services to multinational existing clients and to strengthen its presence in offering solutions to new mining clients.