Success Stories Reduce human exposure & improve productivity
Tunnel development for deep/high stress mining
El Teniente is one of the world’s largest underground copper mine, situated at 109 km from Santiago in Rancagua, Chile. The mine is currently in the process of intensifying operations to prolong its lifespan. Deep underground mining operations are accompanied by high stresses and seismic activity, creating exposure to these risks for workers.
“Outstanding teamwork, we’ve made history in underground mining, and are spearheading the industry with CODELCO. A breakthrough for deep underground mining.”
Miguel Vargas Valenzuela,
Senior Director of Construction at CODELCO
“We’ve had this dream for many years, it’s finally come true. It is all about our team. Thanks very much for your efforts Enaex.”
Pablo Gandara,
Underground Mine Preparation Manager at CODELCO
UG-iTruck® deployment
Autonomous navigation
Scanning and digitalization of the face
Measure and clean blast holes
Mechanized priming
Wireless initiation
Remote mobile pumping unit
Operation from a mobile control station placed in a safe zone
80% reduction in man-hours exposed to risk
We performed the first 100% remote blasting in productive mining in history. We reduced more than 80% of person-hours exposed to risks. Thanks to the UG-iTruck®, our client CODELCO can make it possible to extract new copper resources in deep mining.
In order to make remote loading of explosives in underground mining a reality, we have been working very closely with CODELCO DET for several years. By striving for stronger bonds with them, we have achieved a close relationship to the extent that CODELCO is our preferred customer to implement this type of disruptive innovation, as they have understood the complexity of the development we are jointly undertaking.
