Chile seeks energy solutions

Enviromine

Publishing Date: 06 May 2009 2:01pm GMT
Author: Mining, People and the Environment

Sustainability

As energy becomes an increasingly scarce resource, companies in Chile are turning to new techniques and technologies to solve their needs.

In Chile’s northern Antofagasta region (the source of a third of the world’s copper supply) mining companies may soon be able to tap into a new source of energy straight from the ground.

The geothermal energy that feeds the region’s powerful geysers could be harnessed to power mines, reducing stress on the currently overstretched power grid.

Geotermica del Norte (GDN), a joint venture between Chilean and Italian investors, is developing an exploration project in Quebrada del Zoquete, which it hopes will open a new opportunity to bring clean energy to the power grid.

The test plant is expected to generate 40MW for the northern power grid, and was approved particularly because it will supply power to state copper miner Codelco.

But some environmental groups have raised concerns about the impact of the scheme which could divert some of the small water supply that reaches the area.

There are also concerns about the impact on the geysers which support a strong tourist industry in the region.