• The agreement with Chilean state-owned copper mining company CODELCO will run for three years and includes a maximum investment of €1.8 million provided by the company

 

  • The collaboration will focus on developing innovative solutions for water management, basin monitoring, emission reduction and environmental sustainability in the mining sector

Signatories of the framework agreement between CSIC and CODELCO. Top row, left to right: Enric Vázquez-Suñé (Hydrogeologist and CSIC Researcher, Deputy Director of IDAEA-CSIC), Mariana Concha Mathiesen (CODELCO Corporate Water Manager), and Julio Díaz Rivera (Vice President of Mining Resources, Development and Innovation at CODELCO). Bottom row, left to right: Rafael Garranzo García (Ambassador of Spain to Chile), Rubén Alvarado Vigar (CEO of CODELCO), and Francisco Javier Moreno Fuentes (Vice President for International Relations at CSIC). | CODELCO

Chile’s state-owned copper mining company CODELCO and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) have signed a framework agreement with an investment of €1.8 million to jointly develop scientific and technological projects in areas that are key to achieving greater sustainability in the mining sector. Running for 36 months, the agreement aims to address critical challenges in water efficiency, basin and aquifer monitoring and protection, hydrological variable measurement, as well as the reduction of emissions and particulate matter from mining operations.

“The goal of this agreement is to bring together the strengths of both institutions to jointly tackle challenges in water resources and environmental management,” explains Enric Vázquez-Suñé, hydrogeologist and Deputy Director of IDAEA-CSIC, and one of the agreement’s signatories.

The agreement defines two main areas of cooperation. The first focuses on water resources management and technological development. The aim is to improve water use efficiency in mining operations while exploring alternative and more sustainable water sources. Technological tools will be developed to enable more accurate measurement and reporting of hydrological variables. It will also address the challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather events, with the goal of strengthening the resilience of hydraulic infrastructures and ensuring water sustainability in CODELCO’s operational areas.

“This agreement will make our knowledge available to CODELCO for the design of measures to mitigate the environmental impact of mining activity, ensuring that neither Chile’s environmental sustainability nor the quality of life of local communities is compromised,” adds Francisco Javier Moreno, CSIC’s Vice President for International Relations.

The environmental cooperation will focus on reducing mining-related emissions and improving air quality in the areas affected by the company’s operations. This will involve combining CSIC’s scientific expertise with advanced monitoring and modelling technologies to better understand pollutant behaviour and design more effective control strategies. Local ecosystems will also be studied comprehensively, considering both physical and biological factors, with particular attention to their connection to water resources. The remediation of contaminated soils and water, as well as the protection of key elements of the natural environment, will also be among the priority lines of action.

Signatories of the technological development framework agreement between CODELCO and CSIC. | CODELCO

“This agreement was developed as part of our open innovation model, which aims to address the challenges of future mining through collaboration with national and international partners. At CODELCO, we assign strategic value to initiatives that help transform the industry into one that is more responsible towards its environment, in line with our purpose of being a pillar of sustainable development for Chile and the world,” says Rubén Alvarado, CEO of CODELCO.

In addition to promoting joint initiatives, the agreement also aims to enhance technical training for both teams, encourage participation in international funding calls, and facilitate knowledge transfer through dissemination, demonstration and experimental activities.