Simplifying operations and improving safety

Antamina Copper Mine

A Peruvian copper mine contracted our team between 2005-2006 to perform program management services for remediation measure on their tailings management facility in Peru. Prior to the project, the seepage rate was close to reaching the installed pump back capacity. Plus, the water quality was so poor that direct discharge wasn’t possible—or responsible.

Therefore, remedial measures had to be performed. Considerations included increasing the pump back capacity in combination with seepage reduction measures. The seepage reduction measures included grouting, upstream blanket barriers, upstream face liner, and revised deposition plans. Our role? We were responsible for overall project implementation for design coordination, mine operations coordination, bidding construction packages, procurement, and overall project controls.

For project implementation, our team established an onsite office with construction management staff, health and safety staff, and project controls staff. The mine specified that the new system had to include a hoist mechanism—operated from the top of the decant—to simplify operation and improve safety for operators.

We identified and evaluated three different methods to achieve this objective. The existing system had experienced significant leakage during operations, so one of the mine’s major concerns with the new decant system was how to eliminate seepage through joints. To address this issue, we developed two separate designs—one using joints, and one without.