Chungar

1. Project Details

The projects at Chungar consist of specialized engineering services developed for Compañía Minera Chungar SAC and Volcán Compañía Minera SAA. The portfolio focuses on the stabilization and safety of the Animón Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), including detail engineering for a stabilized configuration, adaptation to international CDA guidelines and Glencore’s Protocol 14, and safety reviews of multiple dams applying Canadian Dam Association (CDA) standards.

2. Project Challenges

The projects face critical technical challenges related to the geotechnical physical stability evaluation of the Animón TSF in its current configuration. This includes developing a trade-off analysis of stabilization alternatives (cost-benefit-risk analysis at a conceptual level), adapting existing infrastructure to international CDA standards and the Glencore Protocol, and performing comprehensive Dam Safety Reviews (DSR) for multiple dams (Rumichaca, Andaychagua, Alpamarca, Animón, and Ocroyoc) using specialized guidelines.

3. Our Approach and Solutions

Tools, techniques, and innovations used:

• Geotechnical physical stability evaluation of the Animón TSF in its current configuration.
• Development of a trade-off analysis for the evaluation of stabilization alternatives.
• Conceptual-level cost-benefit-risk analysis for stabilization alternatives.
• Verification of the stabilized configuration through physical stability analysis.
• Application of simplified numerical models for stability analysis.
• Implementation of advanced numerical models where additional verification is required.
• Development of detail engineering for a physically stable configuration.
• Compliance with the Canadian Dam Association (CDA) guidelines (2014).
• Implementation of Glencore Protocol 14 for tailings management.
• Dam Safety Reviews applying the “Application of Dam Safety Guidelines to Mining Dams” (2014).
• Application of the “Technical Bulletin: Dam Safety Review” (2016) from the CDA.

Applied sustainable practices:

• Adaptation of existing infrastructure to international safety standards.
• Application of globally recognized Canadian regulations for dam safety.
• Implementation of corporate risk management protocols.
• Comprehensive safety review approach across multiple facilities.

4. Results Achieved

• Ongoing development of detail engineering for the stabilized configuration of the Animón TSF.
• Completed adaptation of the Animón TSF to CDA standards and Glencore Protocol 14.
• Comprehensive safety reviews completed for five dams applying CDA guidelines.
• Implementation of a physically stable configuration that meets international standards.
• Completed technical evaluation of stabilization alternatives with cost-benefit analysis.

5. Lessons Learned and Best Practices

• Comprehensive geotechnical evaluation is fundamental to determine the stability of existing tailings storage facilities.
• Trade-off analyses are essential for selecting technically and economically viable stabilization alternatives.
• Adaptation to international CDA standards significantly improves the safety of critical infrastructure.
• Systematic safety reviews of multiple dams allow for comprehensive risk management.
• Advanced numerical models are necessary for the verification of complex stabilization configurations.