Based on the findings of a study released on water usage in domestic mining by Chile's state copper commission Cochilco, Mr Santiago González mining minister of Chile said that if companies do not start searching for alternative water sources now, it is highly likely there will not be enough resources for all the red metal projects slated to begin between now and 2020.
Mr González said that "There is no doubt that this is a serious problem. There's no point carrying out projects if we don't have the necessary water resources in order to development them in the years to come."
He added that desalination, like that being carried out by copper miner Escondida, 57.5% owned by BHP Billiton or direct use of seawater, such as the case of Antofagasta Minerals' Esperanza copper project are the 2 best alternatives today to relying on natural aquifers that are becoming scarce.
Cochilco expects Chile's copper production to grow from its forecast of 5.38 million tonne this year to 7.38 million tonne in 2020 of which concentrate output will rise from 3.27 million tonne this year to 5.74 million tonne and cathode production will drop from 2.11 million tonne to 1.64 million tonne.
Mr Ana Isabel Zúñiga director of research and public policy for Cochilco said that the expectation that concentrates will take on a larger share of copper output in the coming years compounds the water shortage, since concentrate production demands more water than SX EW processing. However, all copper output processes require water. Without water, there is no mining. He added that another contributing factor is the gradual decline of ore grades because the lower the grade the more water is required.
According to the commission, as for fresh water usage, Cochilco estimated that in 2009 Chile's copper miners will consume slightly less than 400Mm3 or 11.9m3/s. In 2020 that amount is expected to increase to more than 600Mm3 or 20.2m3/s. But taking into account the growing impact of alternative water sources such as desalination, in 2020 copper miners could consume about 550Mm3 or 17.1m3/s.
The most sensitive areas of the country are northern regions I-IV that lies within the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth and also the world's most abundant source of copper. For this year Cochilco predicts region II, the most active mining area in Chile will consume 57% of the total water used in regions I-IV by the copper industry. Region I will consume 18%, region III some 17% and region IV about 8%. In 2020 region II will drop to 33%, regions I and III will both consume 27% and region IV some 13%.
(Sourced from Business News Americas)
