- The Integral Plan for the Alcaparrosa Mine (PIMA) 2022-2023 contemplates six main lines of action, among which are filling in the adit, restoring the water infiltrated in the stopes and the reopening of its operation.
- For the execution of PIMA 2022-2023, the company will use local labor and contractor suppliers that are not active today due to the suspension of operations.
Within the framework of developing responsible mining and reaffirming its commitment to the Atacama Region and, especially, to the Tierra Amarilla community, Minera Ojos del Salado launched the Alcaparrosa Mine Comprehensive Plan (PIMA) 2022-2023, which addresses the main consequences generated by the sinkhole that appeared last July 30.
The PIMA 2022-2023 brings together six main lines of action: filling the sinkhole; sealing of the mansions to prevent water infiltration; restitution of the water infiltrated in the mine; protection of labor sources: reopening of the Alcaparrosa Mine and improvement of the social environment.
These actions will be carried out in three stages, which include the identification of the best technical solutions for priority issues, development of conceptual engineering, basic and detailed engineering, and execution of works.
As this plan is a priority for Minera Ojos del Salado, the company has set up a team of experts exclusively dedicated to the development of each of its lines of action. This team of specialists is focused on the preparation and execution of the works and on monitoring all the phases included in this special program.
In addition, the company invited 13 companies that will participate in the tenders that will be carried out in each of the specific projects that are considered in the PIMA 2022-2023, which will be able to transfer their technical knowledge and contribute with various solutions.
For the execution of the works, the company will favor local labor and will resort to contracts that are currently available in Ojos del Salado and that are not currently operating in Alcaparrosa.
“At Minera Ojos del Salado we are interested in advancing in the development of responsible mining, which allows us to contribute to the country and its economy. The PIMA 2022-2023 is the result of this concern and we believe that with its development we will be able to address the main consequences generated by the sinkhole and be a contribution to the community. The sinkhole is on our land and what corresponds is to act with a sense of duty and move forward with the same clarity, transparency that we have had since it appeared”, explains the president of Minera Ojos del Salado, Luis Sánchez.
Detalles de PIMA 2022-2023
One of the main projects of the PIMA 2022-2023 is the filling of the sinkhole, where high-standard engineering will be applied that will allow the area to be left in a state similar to that existing before its appearance. Progress is currently being made in the studies, then the pre-feasibility engineering tender will proceed and from there the works will be carried out.
Another important line is the restitution of the water that infiltrated the Alcaparrosa Mine. Thanks to the efforts of the Minister of Mining, Marcela Hernando, who has promoted an important public-private alliance, progress is being made on a solution that could involve mining companies from Tierra Amarilla that would receive the water that the company will drain from the Alcaparrosa Mine in exchange for not using what they currently extract, thus achieving a compensatory effect on the aquifer.
PIMA 2022-2023 oversees the reopening of the Alcaparrosa Mine, except for the Gaby sector, which will remain closed, with the main emphasis being to resume activities safely. The company continues to work on containing water infiltration and at the end of the year it will award the pre-feasibility engineering for the fortification and recovery of services at the Alcaparrosa Mine, in addition to the installation of wall monitoring instrumentation.
Regarding the protection of labor sources, the company decided to extend the suspension of service contracts for another 30 days, in circumstances that this period had ended on October 31.
To Minera Ojos del Salado the link with the Tierra Amarilla community is a fundamental aspect of our management and for this we are developing a work plan aimed at meeting the needs and interests of our neighbors with relevant and concrete actions.
