Young people from Huasco explore Industry 4.0 at mining fair organized together with ANDRITZ Chile

A group of outstanding students from the province of Huasco were the guests of honor at the Mining Technology Fair organized by CMP and ANDRITZ Chile at the Algarrobo Sports Club in Vallenar. The activity, which brought together students from Colegio Ambrosio O'Higgins and Liceo José Santos Ossa de Vallenar; Liceo Bicentenario General Ramón Freire de Freirina, Liceo Bicentenario de Alto del Carmen and Liceo Japón de Huasco, seeks to contribute to their professional growth.

ANDRITZ is an International Technological Group based in Austria that offers plants, equipment, systems and services for various industries. In Chile, it has more than 550 professionals, and has been present for 18 years, providing solutions to the mining, pulp and paper, hydroelectric, agricultural and livestock food and biomass industries, with a differentiated proposal of technological solutions and specialized services. Compañía Minera del Pacífico (CMP) is the main producer of iron ore and pellets on the American Pacific coast. With operations in the regions of Atacama and Coquimbo. They have a strong regional identity, which is demonstrated by the fact that 98% of their staff is local. Together, these two companies share a vision of sustainable growth that involves the communities where they operate.

"Andritz Chile is proud to be part of this initiative, which is very much in line with our vision of aiming for a sustainable future, a vision we share with CMP. We currently have an internship program with a focus on students of Civil Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Execution Engineering and Chemical Civil Engineering. However, we believe it is also very important to target high schools and technical colleges, mainly in those areas where we are working with our clients, as in this case," said Robert Clua, General Manager of Andritz Chile.

Along the same lines, César Garrido, Operations Manager of CMP, said that "we are very pleased to hold this fair in the province of Huasco. Not only because we can show our processes and the technologies involved in each of them, but also because we do it openly and with the educational communities of the territory, which will soon be the future of mining. We hope that they will have acquired a lot of knowledge and that this will help some of them to make a better decision about their studies and job options later on".

Andrés Rojas, Andritz Sales Director for Latin America, and one of the main drivers of the event, said they hope to contribute to the professional development of young people in the commune. "We believe that if this served to inspire even one of them and see them in the future working with Control and Optimization Systems or in our operator and maintenance training. It will have been worth it. Who knows, maybe they will be the creators of new developments".

Circular Economy

The circular economy promotes responsible consumption based on the use and generation of products that can be reintegrated into natural cycles with a triple impact: economic, environmental and social. To make this a reality, it is essential to incorporate the new generations. Hence the enthusiasm of Gisselle Bracamonte, to participate as a speaker at the Mining Fair organized by CMP and ANDRITZ. The environmental manager is the general manager of the MORE GREEN RECYCLE initiative, a company that supplies mineral water to the mining industry and is responsible for recycling containers so that PET resin can be used in new containers, hulls and equipment.

"Chile, like the rest of the world, has significant challenges in terms of reducing its carbon footprint. In this sense, we face a unique opportunity to make a positive impact, and not only comply with the minimum standard of the Extended Producer Responsibility Law (EPR). In this purpose, the citizenship is an important transforming agent of social changes, essential aspects to incorporate a successful awareness that will allow our country to obtain a good rate of plastics recovery", said Gisselle Bracamonte.

For her, the goal of a country with zero plastic waste will only be achieved with the collaboration of all stakeholders, including, of course, the new generations, the protagonists of the future.

ANDRITZ GROUP

The ANDRITZ Technology Group supplies a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems, services and digital solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets. ANDRITZ is one of the global market leaders in its four business areas: pulp and paper, metals, hydraulics, and solid-liquid separation. Technological leadership, global presence, and sustainability are the key cornerstones of the corporate strategy, which is geared toward long-term profitable growth. The Group has around 26,800 employees at 280 locations in more than 40 countries.

PACIFIC MINING COMPANY

Compañía Minera del Pacífico (CMP) is the main producer of iron ore and pellets on the American Pacific coast. With operations in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions and more than 60 years of mining tradition, it has a strong regional identity, which is demonstrated by the fact that 98% of its workforce is local.

The company, which represents 99% of Chile's iron ore exports, has a presence in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions, with 3 mining, train and port complexes that develop its entire production chain, from ore extraction to export. We are part of the only mining conglomerate in the country that covers from mining extraction to the industrialization of final products, and we generate joint business with more than 2,000 supplier companies for US$750 million per year. In 2021 we produced 16 million metric tons.