Let’s reduce operational costs!

Discover how we have implemented premium tailor-made blasting solutions to reduce the operational costs of our customers:

1. Optimize drilling and blasting parameters for the Gabriela Mistral Division of CODELCO.
2. Reduce travel times and increase production at the Constancia mine for Hudbay Minerals.

Optimize drilling and blasting parameters for the Gabriela Mistral Division of CODELCO.

Gabriela Mistral Division, owned by CODELCO, operates an open-pit copper mine in Chile's Antofagasta region. Changes in the drilling and blasting processes were needed to meet its cost targets in 2023 and comply with the plant's granulometric curve. Although the current parameters achieved the defined fragmentation curve, there was room for improvement in the percentage of material below 2 inches, leading to cost savings for the operation.

Our EMTS team presented a technical proposal with performance estimates to our customer, which we then tested and analyzed for positive results. Thanks to their efforts, we could modify and increase drilling and blasting parameters and effectively implement these changes in the field, reducing cost per blast:

• The overall cost was reduced by 44%.
• The percentage of ore under 2 inches has decreased by 7%, which has resulted in better control over fines.
• A size of 4.4 inches for P80 can be achieved without negatively impacting the loading equipment and comminution plant processes.

"This was made possible by the high quality of the rock and the successful collaboration between Enaex and the Gabriela Mistral Division."- Estefany Tobar Bustamante , Chief Engineer of Drilling and Blasting at GMD CODELCO.

Click here to better understand this project and its impact!

Reduce travel times and increase production at the Constancia mine for Hudbay Minerals.

The Constancia mine, a Peruvian copper mine, experienced a problem when evacuating mining teams during blasting processes as the mine construction advanced, delaying the return to work.

Our EMTS team developed a technology to mathematically model rock projections using parabolic cinematic estimates. The system combined the use of high-speed cameras, specialized software, and GPS as measurement instruments.

Thanks to this technology, we were able to optimize mining team travel times and determine maximum rock projection ranges:

• The mine's radius of influence was reduced by 14%.
• The travel time for mining teams dropped by 16%.
• +875 tons produced per shift.

"Excellent contribution to the operation, helping optimize travel times and distances for mining teams." - PEDRO GANDARILLAS , Head of Drilling and Blasting at Hudbay Minerals.

Click here to read the full story!

Thank you to CODELCO – Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile and Hudbay Peru S.A.C. for their trust! By strengthening our bonds, we have co-created premium blasting solutions.

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