The Future of desalination in Latin America GWI- Chile- ACCIONA Agua
Transcript of The Future of desalination in Latin America GWI- Chile- ACCIONA Agua
José Díaz-CanejaDirector GeneralACCIONA Agua
The Future of desalination in Latin America & the
application of desalination technologies to feed
mining operations – The Chilean Example -
José GonzalezGeneral Manager, AguasCAP S.A
SECTORS & COUNTRIES
• Municipal:
Ensure water supply in large urban areas
Brazil (Rio, Sao Paolo), …
• Industrial:
Provide with fresh water to industries requiring it for
their production processes
• Oil & Gas, Petrochem & Energy
These sectors require water with specific
characteristics for the processes of their industries
(make-up, cooling, …)
� Mexico, Brazil, Peru, …
• Mining
Freash and salty water is required in large volume for
the abstraction and treatment of the mineral
� Chile, Perú, …
DESALINATION IN LATAM
Use of Water Reserves in Different Regions
LATIN AMERICA
• Largest producer of Cooper in the world & Big producer of
other minerals (gold, iron, zinc)
CHILE
• Mining is the industry that contributes most to the Chilean
GDP, accounting for 12% of the GDP in 2012
• It is the largest contributor to the country’s exports:
mining accounted for 59% of Chile’s $78.3 billion total
exports in the same year.
• Chile is the main producer of copper in the world
• Mining is an strategic industry for the country, the Chilean
economy will continue to depend on it and it is one of the
driest South America Countries
� Great potential for the desalination sector in Chile
SECTORS: MINING. The industrial sector with biggest potential for large scale desalination
Santiago and the Andes
Increasing water scarcity
• Climate, Population Increase, Economic Growth
Stricter environmental quality regulations
• Water Supply and Wastewater Discharge
Need to obtain and maintain the Social License to Operate (SLO)
• Avoiding Social Conflict that could affect Economics
Nature of the ore body
• Current and Future Operations will require larger
volume of water (decreasing ore grades + sulphide form)
Map of current and planned
mining projects in ChileKEY DRIVERS FOR WATER IN MINING
MINING WATER CONSUMPTION: MARKET POTENTIAL 2014-2025
Source: Cochilco
Some Mining Operations in Chile
WATER FOR ACTUAL AND FUTURE MINING PROJECTS
Actual Mining Projects in Chile
Mostly expansion of existing mines
• Advancements in technology make it feasible to exploit
ores of lower grades, unveiling great potential in areas
surrounding existing mines
• Large-scale exploitation is able to offset increasing costs
of existing mines taking advantage of economies of scale.
New Mining Projects
Will be develop in the next 10 years based on the
prospection which are currently being undertake
Source: Global Water Intelligence
Map of current and planned mining
Projects and desalination plants in Chile
CHILEAN SWRO PROJECTS: PRESENT & FUTURE
CHILE: DROUGHT TO STAY HERE
• The drought started in 2007 will remain in the future
• In the south January has been the driest fro years and in
the north Atacama, already the driest region in the world,
threats with enlarging desertification
• All this is heavily affecting mining operations
PLAN TO ENSURE WATER AVAILABILITY
• Gov is clear about investing in desalination
• 170mUSD will be invested during 2015
• Small % Medium SWRO facilities will be constructed in the
mid term
���� Planning and Resources need to be allocated
SWRO: A NEED & AN OPPORTUNITY
La Serena
NOT ONLY SWRO, ALSO WASTEWATER TREATMENT
THE NEED IN NOT ONLY SUPLYING FRESH WATER BUT ALSO TREATING THE WASTERWATER
• Need for supplying fresh water for mining operations
• Need for supplying fresh water for mineral transportation
• Need for treating the wastewater in operational mines
• Need for treating Acid Mining Drainage for non-operational ones
Chuquicamata Escondida
Seawater (desalinated or not)
• Large amounts of energy required to pump such water to mines
located far from the sea and up in the Andes (over 3.000masl.)
• As the cost of desalination has decreased in recent years, the
most expensive items now are pumping and the transportation
infrastructure
Treated municipal Wastewater (MF, UF, NF, RO)
• Cheaper than desalination and pumping
• Benefits the neighboring communities
• Challenges in terms of negotiations with the communities, water
sale and use of other surrounding water resources
• Actual discussion of property of wastewater. (¿who should profit?)
The use of treated municipal wastewater to feed mineral
processing will increase, although at a slow pace.
El Teniente Mine
OPTIONS FOR WATER SUPPLY FOR MINING IN CHILE
CERRO NEGRO SWRO: A NEW STANDARD IN MINING PROJECTS
CERRO NEGRO SWRO: A NEW STANDARD IN MINING PROJECTS