Chile investigates Antofagasta's Los Pelambres mine after water discharge from rains
SANTIAGO - Chile's Antofagasta Minerals said on Thursday its flagship Los Pelambres copper mine remains safe after Chile's environmental regulator opened an investigation into a water discharge incident triggered by severe weather.
The regulator on Wednesday said Antofagasta had released water from a drainage pond into the Pupio waterway after heavy rains caused a landslide near the site.
Antofagasta said the controlled release of water from two pools downstream of the tailings dam wall is part of the mine's water management system.
Some of the water was channeled into the Pupio stream, whose flow had already risen significantly owing to rainfall.
Inspections of the tailings dam showed it "is stable and in line with its design and safety parameters, with no risks to people or the surrounding environment," the company said.
The regulator said it would continue evaluating whether further action is needed.
Heavy rains have hit Chile from the north-central zone to the south, causing floods, road closures and damage to homes.
Copper mines in the area typically operate under winter contingency plans, but the storm's intensity has forced some to scale back activities even further.
Los Pelambres, in Chile's north-central Coquimbo region, is Antofagasta's largest copper mine.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
As a reticulator, Egoli Gas provides natural gas to homes and businesses via underground pipes.
VISIT SHOWROOM
AirNox (Pty) Ltd is a level 1 BBBEE manufacturer of complete AdBlue® solutions for operators of SCR diesel engines and AUS40 across South Africa...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
