We will decarbonize the pellet plant, significantly reducing atmospheric emissions.

Compañía Minera del Pacífico, CMP, concerned about global warming and the quality of life in the territory of which it has been a part for more than six decades, presents a new voluntary environmental improvement project that will significantly reduce emissions in the commune of Huasco, in the Atacama region.

The decarbonization of the Pellet Plant is in line with the CAP Group's sustainability strategy of going beyond current regulations. Its engineering has been developed by the mining company during the last year, and was endorsed this Monday by CMP's board of directors, complementing a program of major works and investments for environmental improvement, as is the case of the second electrostatic precipitator at the Pellet Plant, soon to be inaugurated, and the replacement of the current tailings system for one with modern filtering technology, among others.

The project consists of a modification to the fuel supply system of this production unit, which will operate with natural gas. This will allow the total elimination of coal from the Pellet Plant's operations, and it is estimated to reduce particulate matter emissions from its chimneys by 98%, sulfur emissions by 97% and NOx emissions by 65%, contributing to improve air quality in Huasco and to be in line with sustainable development objectives in relation to climate change.

"At CMP we are developing an important investment plan and environmental and social improvement projects, which are a priority for us. This project is a concrete example of sustainable mining that allows us to reach the best global standards in the industry in terms of environmental care. It is another example of CMP's commitment to the territory and its people, promoting a different kind of mining to grow hand in hand with the communities," said CMP's general manager, Francisco Carvajal.

Upon completion of the engineering, which is under development and the associated permitting process, it is estimated that the decarbonization project works will take about two years. This includes the installation of a gasification plant, the dismantling of all the coal handling and storage facilities of the Pellet Plant and the replacement of the plant's parts and pieces, which will transform it into a gas-only facility.

The decarbonization of the Pellet Plant is part of a series of investments in sustainability that exceed US$300 million. The change of fuel will have an upward effect on CMP's production costs, a difference that will be assumed by the company and will be considered part of an environmentally friendly production process.

"We are transforming ourselves to continue growing together with our neighbors. The different mining that we want to achieve as CMP is based on materializing the potential of the people and the existing capacities in the territories. We are convinced that this is the way to project sustainable development together", added the CMP general manager.