At 15:56 pm on Thursday, May 22, the first blast was carried out at the caving level of the Andes Norte project of Codelco’s El Teniente division. The milestone marks the start of operations in the new sector of the century-old mining operation.
Codelco’s CEO, Rubén Alvarado, was in charge of activating the device to detonate the explosives, accompanied by the Vice Presidents of Operations, Mauricio Barraza, and Projects, Julio Cuevas; along with the General Manager of the El Teniente Division, Andrés Music, executives, and employees.
“This is a long history that dates back to the New Mine Level, where we have provided an example of perseverance, resilience, and learning. Today we are delivering 50 more years of production for El Teniente, 50 more years of development for Chile,” emphasised Rubén Alvarado.
Mauricio Barraza explained that “this project represents the third major deepening that the El Teniente Division has undergone in its 120 years, with a new production level, a new materials handling system, and new access to operations for the coming years.” He added that “we are at the forefront of knowledge, in a sector requiring high stress, with a distinct seismic risk, but we have no doubt that our workers will successfully carry out the commitments this productive sector has in the short, medium, and long term.”
The Vice President of Projects, Julio Cuevas, emphasised that this blast represents not only a milestone, but also a responsibility. “Those who exploit Andes Norte in the future will lead deep mining for the next 50 years, given the importance of the El Teniente Division in the region and mining in Chile. The responsibility rests on the shoulders of that generation, but also the tremendous opportunity not only for learning, but also to raise the profile of this deep mining sector globally,” he stated.
This same idea was reinforced by the General Manager of the El Teniente Division, Andrés Music, who highlighted the collaborative work between El Teniente employees, the Vice President of Projects, and the collaborating companies. “No project can be developed without the talent of its people. That is why it is important to recognise the work they have done to achieve this milestone. You are the first crew of this ship and you have the responsibility to leave behind the best practices, the spirit, and the values we need to exploit this mine for more than 50 years,” he emphasised.
The Andes Norte project has 375 Mt of reserves and is projected to produce 35,000 t of ore per day, with an average copper grade of 0.99%. The crushing cavern alone has a volume of 84,000 cubic metres.
