ENAMI presented the results of the project that converts copper slag tailings into green cements, an ecological alternative to Portland cement. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the universities of Atacama and Adolfo Ibáñez, is part of the FONDEF IDEA project ID23I10004.
The creation of green and sustainable cements
During two events held in Copiapó and Santiago, the technical advances of this technology were presented, which allows the conditioning of mining waste as a supplementary cementitious material. Laboratory tests showed that mixtures with different replacement percentages achieve strengths similar to those of conventional cement after 90 days, complying with national regulations.
The project responds directly to the environmental challenge posed by the accumulation of mining liabilities, especially in areas such as the Atacama Region. By valorizing the slag tailings generated by copper smelting, a concrete opportunity opens up to reduce the impact of mining and at the same time supply the construction industry with a sustainable input.
Víctor Rivera, ENAMI’s assistant manager for northern zone operations, said that the technology seeks to respond to the real needs of the affected territories. Andoni Torrontegui, head of New Businesses and Innovation, stressed the potential of this type of development for linking value chains between different productive sectors.
In addition to minimizing emissions and anthropogenic dust, the use of green cements represents an opportunity to mitigate pressure on nearby ecosystems, particularly in agricultural areas. Paula Rojas Saperas, director of the project, valued the collaboration between institutions and pointed to the future scalability of the development, now in the initial technological maturity stage (TRL).
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Source and photo: ENAMI
