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Spence, Chile: a 21st century model project
In 2003, Aker Solutions was awarded the USD 990 million Spence project by Minera Spence S.A. in Northern Chile. As one of the largest mining investments made in Chile by BHP Billiton to date and the first green field engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCm) project executed in the country for several years, the project was firmly challenged to deliver an exceptional facility.  Its vision was to be an outstanding yet simple operation that could take the role of being the twenty-first century model project.

Contact


Business Development Nueva Tajamar 481, Torre Norte
Piso 19, Las Condes
Santiago, Chile
Mining & Metals - Santiago, Chile
+56 2 336 3519 / 3520
 

References
More information on Mining and Metals

Spence is the development of a copper ore deposit located in the middle of the Atacama Desert. The project includes an open pit mine, crushing, conveying, dynamic pad heap leaching, solvent extraction and electro-winning (SX/EW) facilities to produce a nominal 200 000 t/a of high quality cathode copper from 50 000 t/d of ore. The infrastructure development includes highway relocation, maintenance facilities, a water pipeline, and offices.

Aker Solutions’ EPCM contract, valued at some USD 50 million, was executed from our Leach/SX/EW process centre offices in Santiago, Chile. 

The project was planned and designed considering all HSE aspects from design to commissioning. To become a model project, “zero harm” to personnel, property, the environment and the community were key principles. Aker Solutions and Minera Spence S.A. worked as a team, applying a model containing detailed standards and protocols, including the Spence Project Observation Team programme (which uses observations as the basis for determining the behavioural changes required to improve safety standards).

  
Spence, Chile: a 21st century model project
Spence, Chile: a 21st century model project
Spence, Chile: a 21st century model project

Technological innovations

After the revision phase we incorporated advanced technical developments from other recent SX/EW projects, including BHP Billiton’s Tintaya Oxide Project in Peru.

The plant is one of the world’s largest leach/SX/EW facilities with leachate flows of around 7000 cubic metres per hour (m3/h) and a large automated tank house using polymer concrete cells, total production stripping from permanent cathode blanks and the largest cell hood ventilation system built to date for acid mist control. The EW plant is fully automated and includes innovative technology developed by the client for high current density operation.

Project milestones and awards 

Construction activities included moving 3.3 million cubic metres of earth, pouring 65 000 cubic metres of concrete poured and erecting 6 500 tonnes of structural steel. Around 60 000 tonnes of equipment and materials were received at site.

We successfully commissioned the project on time and within budget. With approximately 8 500 workers on site at peak, nearly 24 million manhours were worked without one incapacitation incident.

The project’s track record of awards recognises numerous safety successes:

 

§         The Chilean Government Ministry of Mines - Best Project in Mining Safety of the Region, December 2005.

§         The Municipality of Sierra Gorda – Good Neighbour, May 2006.

§         The Chilean Government Ministry of Mines – National Mining Safety Award, July 2006.

§         Mutual de Seguridad Award (Safety Association) – one million man-hours without one incapacitated incident, July 2006.

§         BHP Billiton – Project Safety Excellence Award, July 2006.

§         The National Society of Chilean Mining – Lowest Level of Accidentability - John T. Ryan Trophy, August 2006.

§         Aker Solutions President's Award for HSE, January 2007.

§         Aker Solutions EVP’s Award for Best Overall HSE Performance, January 2007.

 

We delivered a quality design that makes each building a user-friendly, distinctive structure for the workers. The design for the office complex was awarded Best Permanent Construction by US trade association, the Modular Building Institute, recognising the project’s “architectural excellence, technical innovation, cost effectiveness, and energy efficiency”.
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