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| History Developments |
Noranda - Chile
History - Located some 35km from Antofagasta in La Negra, northern Chile, the plant is within close proximity to the driest place on earth. The BAYESA operated project provides water for an increasing number of industrial companies.
The main client is a Canadian owned company, Noranda who in 1998 purchased a copper smelter named Refimet, which operates in Antofagasta as Alto Norte Smelter. Significant development in the area occurred when they increased their investment and expanded production in 2000.
Chile is dependant on the production of Copper as it is it's biggest export and accounts for 40% of the world's annual output.
Developments - This new expansion has seen many companies relocate to the area to be close to the major mining companies and has led to an increased need for new water. Previous water resources were supplied from wells in Yungay, approximately 100km from Noranda, which has a very high cost and limited supply.
Many of these new companies have access to electricity but have only limited access to water supply.
Due to the aridity of the land, this project is backed by the regional authorities who believe that once there is a water resource in the sector many companies located in Antofagasta will wish to relocate their facilities there.
All of the newly provided water uses wastewater from Antofagasta which goes through a treatment process to comply to international standards. Previously the sewage from Antofagasta was pumped into the sea causing pollution and harm to marine life.
The project consists of over 12km impulsion pipe from the Grandon reservoir to the Salar del Carmen, designed to transport 120lps.
Two pumping stations are used to take the water from 70m above sea level to 600m above sea level.
Once the water reaches the Salar del Carmen the treated water is sent to a reservoir from where it is sent through a gravitation pipe to the Noranda facilities, 27km away.
Supply is guaranteed 24 hours a day with the accumulation reservoir being very close to the plant instalments. In the unlikely event of a technical problem we have an interconnection with the reservoir to supply it with water.
