In the mining industry, traceability of processes and products is a fundamental aspect to guarantee quality and transparency in the supply chain. In this sense, the Chilean mining company Codelco, with its Gabriela Mistral and Radomiro Tomic divisions, has positioned itself as the only mine certified in traceability worldwide.
The certification issued by "The Copper Mark" recognizes Codelco with the "Chain of Custody" seal. The Chain of Custody standard implies the existence of a control and transparency system for products, which maintains a documentary record - linked to the concept of traceability - of the sequence of companies and key actors that maintain custody of the materials as they move through the value chain.
In the case of Codelco, the logistics process was evaluated from the time the cathode leaves the division until it is delivered to the end customer, considering all stages of transfer and means of transport used. Among the four criteria required by the Chain of Custody are, for example, committing the senior management of the work center to the management system for the control of materials, maintaining a robust traceability mechanism for the products and having The Copper Mark certification.
Cathodic traceability in DGM
In line with the incorporation of technology in mining processes, the Gabriela Mistral Division has launched a pioneering initiative in the measurement of cathodic quality with the support of Antara.
Under the same concept of traceability, the Antara platform was implemented, together with different Handheld devices that allow instant digitalization of the manual controls carried out in the leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning processes, the main stages of copper production in hydrometallurgical plants,
"Given the demands of our customers, we have the responsibility to seek and adopt technologies that allow us to maintain our prestige in the markets where our cathodes are marketed, and it is also a way to ensure our divisional commitment in quality and quantity"
explained Susanna Vergara, senior plant planning and marketing engineer of the Plant Planning Superintendence.
This implementation will make copper quality improvement opportunities visible, and at the same time facilitate the creation of a robust data base that will allow the implementation of advanced analytics.
"The purpose of digitizing processes and records will allow us to improve the traceability of copper cathodes from the time they are weighed at the plant until they are shipped to port," said Rolando Jofré, CTO of Antara Minning.
Currently, the Handheld is in white run and field tests are being carried out in the electrowinning (EW) plant, to later implement it in the solvent extraction (SX) and leaching processes.
The traceability certification and the implementation of the Handheld device at the Gabriela Mistral mine are significant advances for the Chilean mining industry in its quest for excellence and sustainability.
