Codelco’s Green Shift: EVs and Cactus Initiatives

The leading copper producer in Chile, is taking steps to enhance its environmental credentials due to increasing demands from global customers for more sustainable mining practices. The company is undertaking a substantial eco-friendly overhaul by investing in electric buses, setting up cactus nurseries, and improving its efforts in recycling metal components and tools.

As the top producer of copper worldwide, Codelco is working to ramp up its production and reverse a recent drop in output. This push towards sustainability is focused on its main operation, the El Teniente mine, which is located 75 km (47 miles) south of Santiago and holds the title of the largest underground copper mine in the world.

The move is partly aimed at enhancing the company's public image, but it also addresses increasing pressure from customers who demand more sustainable and traceable copper for use in electric vehicles and wind turbines. Codelco CEO Ruben Alvarado emphasized the importance of certifications like "The Copper Mark" to demonstrate the company's commitment to sustainable practices.

Experts, however, question the true impact of these efforts. Copper mining remains highly water-intensive, and the tailings from mining can contain harmful heavy metals. Additionally, light pollution from mining activities disrupts the clear night skies of the Andean region.

Patricia Munoz, an economist at the University of Santiago, pointed out that while the benefits of Codelco’s initiatives are still limited, they represent a positive beginning.

Among the new initiatives is a fleet of 100 electric buses that have been converted from diesel, transporting workers from Rancagua to the mine. This fleet is expected to cut CO2 emissions by approximately 3,000 tons per year and improve air quality in the mine's tunnels.

Codelco is also focused on recycling recovered metal parts like bolts and meshes, though this process incurs higher transportation costs. Andres Music, the general manager at El Teniente, noted that while recycling is more expensive, it is crucial for improving process efficiency and addressing environmental concerns.

In addition, Codelco is collaborating with the government on a nursery and research center dedicated to cultivating native plants, including endangered cactus species. This initiative aims to rehabilitate areas impacted by tailing dams by growing plants that can stabilize the soil and extract heavy metals. Ivan Quiroz of the Mediterranean Ecosystems Research Center (CEIEM) highlighted the goal of producing one million native plants to aid in environmental recovery.